ATHLETIC FOOTWEAR TREAD CRADLE

Abstract

Tread cradles for covering a sole of an article of footwear having at least one cleat are described, the tread cradles comprising bases having first and second sides, treads disposed on the first side of the bases, and disposed on the second side of the base, means for reversibly securing the cleat to the base, thereby removably attaching the article of footwear to the tread cradle. Covering the sole prevents mud, grass, and other debris from sloughing off, protects the sole from abrasive surfaces, such as concrete and asphalt, protects flooring surfaces, and may cushion the article of footwear for greater user comfort.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/923,876 filed Jan. 6, 2014, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Certain types of athletic footwear, particularly those with aggressive tread, such as soccer cleats and football cleats, tend to collect mud, grass, and other debris. If subsequently worn indoors, the mud, grass, and other debris slough off, leaving waffle-like clumps. Moreover, abrasive surfaces such as concrete and asphalt quickly wear down the aggressive tread, reducing their efficacy and eventually requiring replacement of the entire footwear article. Conversely, aggressive tread can damage or disfigure flooring surfaces, leading to scuffs, scratches, or digs.

[0003] While these foregoing problems can be avoided by only wearing the footwear article on the field of play, in practice, this is usually inconvenient and at times impossible, such as for last minute field changes or other overlapping scheduling. Accordingly, what is needed is a device to prevent previously collected mud, grass, and other debris in the tread of athletic footwear from sloughing off while a user moves, and to protect the tread from contact with abrasive surfaces.

SUMMARY

[0004] Tread cradles for covering a sole of an article of footwear having at least one cleat are described, the tread cradles comprising bases having first and second sides, treads disposed on the first side of the bases, and disposed on the second side of the base, means for reversibly securing the cleat to the base, thereby removably attaching the article of footwear to the tread cradle.

[0005] Methods for covering a sole of an article of footwear having at least one cleat are described, the method comprising providing a tread cradle having a base and means for reversibly securing the cleat to the base, thereby removably attaching the article of footwear to the tread cradle.

[0006] Methods for manufacturing a tread cradle for covering a sole of an article of footwear having at least one cleat are described, the methods comprising determining the position of the at least one cleat on the footwear, and providing a receptacle on the tread cradle in a position corresponding to the position of the at least one cleat on the footwear, the receptacle being capable of reversibly securing the cleat in the receptacle, thereby removably attaching the article of footwear to the tread cradle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an article of athletic footwear.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an article of athletic footwear with a removeably attachable tread cradle.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an article of athletic footwear with a removeable tread cover according to the prior art.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an article of athletic footwear with a removeable tread cover according to the prior art.

[0011] FIGS. 5a-5d are bottom plan views of articles of athletic footwear.

[0012] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 2.

[0013] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view through a receptacle.

[0014] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view through an alternative receptacle.

[0015] FIG. 9a is a top plan view of an alternative receptacle.

[0016] FIG. 9b is a cross sectional view through a receptacle of FIG. 9a.

[0017] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative removeably attachable tread cradle.

[0018] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another alternative removeably attachable tread cradle.

[0019] FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view through a cleat removeably engaged in a receptacle.

[0020] FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view through a cleat removeably engaged in yet another receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an article of athletic footwear 100. The footwear 100 may be designed for a specific sport, such as for soccer, American football, or baseball. The footwear 100 comprises an upper 102, the upper having a heel region 102a, a middle region 102b, and a toe region 102c. The upper 102 may be of materials that are man-made or natural, or a combination thereof. A tongue 104 and laces 106 are disposed in the upper 102 in order to provide a secure fit for a user's foot (not depicted).

[0022] The footwear 100 comprises a sole 108 connected to the upper 102. The sole 108 has cleats 110, which provide an aggressive tread for playing field surfaces, and may have various patterns, including studs and/or blades, as will be described with reference to FIGS. 5a-5d. The footwear 100 may have a lining, an insole, and a midsole disposed between the upper 102 and the sole 108, although such features are not depicted for simplicity of illustration.

[0023] Turning to FIG. 2, a tread cradle 200 is removeably attached to the footwear 100 to form an assembly 210. The footwear 100 may be a conventional athletic shoe, or, alternatively, it may be an athletic shoe specially adapted to cooperate with the tread cradle 200 and sold together as an assembly 210 or a kit.

[0024] "Removeably attached" means that the tread cradle 200 and footwear 100 engage in a manner that is reversibly secure, in other words, capable of being repeatedly attached, separated, and reattached without undue effort or damage. Consistent with the understanding of those skilled in the art, removeably attached refers to being attached, separated, and reattached by the user of the footwear, and is not intended to be limited to steps taken during manufacture. The tread cradle 200 has means (not depicted in FIG. 2) to engage the cleats 110 in a manner that allows the tread cradle to be removeably attached to the footwear 100.

[0025] The tread cradle 200 comprises a base 212. The base 212 may comprise polymer foams, ethylene and vinyl acetate (EVA), or polyurethane, or a combination thereof. The base 212 may provide support, used interchangeably herein with cushioning, such that the cushioning provided by the combination of the tread cradle 200 and footwear 100 is greater than the cushioning provided by the footwear by itself. As such, this may be advantageous for athletes recovering from injury who require more cushioning during, for example, warm-ups, but who wish to be ready for play without having to change footwear. In yet another example, the base may provide the ability to convert the footwear from use on one surface to another (e.g., grass turf to artificial turf, grass turf to court) or from a sport specific tread to another sport specific tread (e.g., soccer to futsal, soccer to tennis, or soccer to basketball).

[0026] Sidewalls 214 extend relatively upward from the base 212. The sidewall 214 has an area 214a that may comprise information, indicia of origin, decorative features, or structural features. Examples of information and/or indicia of origin include trademarks, logos, sport-specific representations (such as of a soccer ball), or a number (such as a shoe size). Examples of decorative and/or structural features include springs, viewing windows, and bladders.

[0027] Treads 216 extend relatively downward from the base 212. The treads 216 may comprise blown rubber or carbon rubber, or a combination thereof. The treads 216 may be solid, patterned, grooved, or otherwise adapted to confer fraction comparable to that provided by a running shoe. The tread cradle 200 may be designed to look like the midsole and outsole of a running shoe.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 3, in the prior art, a previous method for preventing collected mud, grass, and other debris (not depicted) from sloughing from the tread of athletic footwear 300 employed a cover 302 that resembled clogs or galoshes. The cover 302 engages the perimeter of the footwear 300 to remain in place.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 4, in the prior art, a previous method for preventing collected mud, grass, and other debris (not depicted) from sloughing from the tread of athletic footwear 400 employs a cover 402 that resembles a hospital shoe cover. The cover 402 engages the perimeter of the footwear 400 to remain in place.

[0030] As mentioned with respect to FIG. 2, the tread cradle 200 has means to engage the cleats 110 in a manner that allows the tread cradle to be removeably attached to the footwear 100. Such an approach is more complex than simple perimeter engagement discussed above. For example, turning to FIGS. 5a-5d, bottom plan views of articles of athletic footwear 500a, 500b, 500c, 500d illustrate that athletic footwear cleats may comprise large studs 510, small studs 520 (also known as nubs), blades 530, or a combination of studs and blades. Cleats may be molded integral to the footwear, or replaceable, such as by being engaged by threaded interaction (e.g., screwed in). As will be discussed, cleat engagement may be advantageously achieved by the present tread cradles by employing mirror image engagement (FIG. 6), reference point engagement (FIG. 10), or key engagement (FIG. 11).

[0031] Referring now to FIG. 6, an exploded perspective view of an assembly substantially similar to the assembly 210 of FIG. 2, and using the same reference numerals, is illustrated. The footwear 100, with upper 102, tongue 104, laces 106, sole 108, and cleats 110, removeably attaches to the tread cradle 200. A receptacle 630 extends relatively upward from the base 212 of the tread cradle 200. The receptacle 630 engages the cleat 110 in a manner that is reversibly secure. As mentioned above, the footwear 100 may have various patterns, including studs and/or blades, as described with reference to FIGS. 5a-5d. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the number and position of receptacles 630 may correspond to the number and position of cleats 110 in substantially a mirror image. Also as illustrated in FIG. 6, the cleats 110 are the large stud type. However, it will be appreciated that the embodiments described herein using receptacles 630 adapted to large stud cleats can be modified to accommodate a variety of patterns and cleat types.

[0032] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view through a receptacle 730, which may be an example of a receptacle 630 (FIG. 6). The receptacle 730 extends from a base 712 of the tread cradle (not depicted). The receptacle 730 comprises walls 732 defining an opening 734. A lip 736 is disposed adjacent to the opening 734. The lip 736 may be deformable and sufficiently elastic to allow a cleat (not depicted) to pass through the opening 734. The lip 736 may stretch to surround the cleat (not depicted), thereby reversibly securing the cleat, and hence its attached footwear (not depicted), to the tread cradle (not depicted).

[0033] The walls 732 further define a receptacle floor 738. The receptacle floor 738 may be the same material as the base 712. The receptacle floor 738 may contribute no additional thickness to the base 712, or the receptacle floor may make the base thicker (such as for additional cushioning), or the receptacle floor may retain an EVA insert (not depicted) for additional cushioning beyond that provided by the base. Although not depicted, the receptacle floor 738 may be bored out, making the base 712 thinner, for a lower overall tread cradle profile. The receptacle floor 738 may be treated, for example with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, to help retain the cleat. It is understood that throughout this specification, "pressure-sensitive adhesive" is understood to be a composition for increasing the tack of coated surfaces, but not to permanently bond them.

[0034] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view through a receptacle 830, which may be an example of a receptacle 630 (FIG. 6). The receptacle 830 extends from a base 812 of the tread cradle (not depicted). The receptacle 830 comprises walls 832 defining an opening 834. A lip 836 is disposed adjacent to the opening 834. The lip 836 may be deformable and sufficiently elastic to allow a cleat (not depicted) to pass through the opening 834. The lip 836 may stretch to surround the cleat (not depicted), thereby reversibly securing the cleat, and hence its attached footwear (not depicted), to the tread cradle (not depicted).

[0035] The walls 832 further define a receptacle floor 838. The receptacle floor 838 may be the same material as the base 812. The receptacle floor 838 may contribute no additional thickness to the base 812, or the receptacle floor may make the base thicker (such as for additional cushioning), or the receptacle floor may retain an EVA insert (not depicted) for additional cushioning beyond that provided by the base. Although not depicted, the receptacle floor 838 may be bored out, making the base 812 thinner, for a lower overall tread cradle profile. The receptacle floor 838 may be treated, for example with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, to help retain the cleat.

[0036] A rib 840 extends from the wall 832 below the lip 836. The rib 840 is sufficiently elastic to allow a cleat (not depicted) to pass by, and the rib may stretch to surround the cleat, in addition to the lip 836, thereby reversibly securing the cleat, and hence its attached footwear (not depicted), to the tread cradle (not depicted).

[0037] FIGS. 9a & 9b illustrate a receptacle 930, which may be an example of a receptacle 630 (FIG. 6). The receptacle 930 extends from a base 912 of the tread cradle (not depicted). The receptacle 930 comprises walls 932 defining an opening 934. The walls 932 further define a receptacle floor 938. The receptacle floor 938 may be the same material as the base 912. The receptacle floor 938 may contribute no additional thickness to the base 912, or the receptacle floor may make the base thicker (such as for additional cushioning), or the receptacle floor may retain an EVA insert (not depicted) for additional cushioning beyond that provided by the base. Although not depicted, the receptacle floor 938 may be bored out, making the base 912 thinner, for a lower overall tread cradle profile. The receptacle floor 938 may be treated, for example with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, to help retain the cleat.

[0038] A plurality of splines 950 extend radially from the wall 932. The splines 950 may be deformable and sufficiently elastic to allow a cleat (not depicted) passing through the opening 934 to bend the splines around the cleat, thereby reversibly securing the cleat, and hence its attached footwear (not depicted), to the tread cradle (not depicted). The splines 950 may be treated, for example with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, to help retain the cleat.

[0039] Turning to FIG. 10, an alternative tread cradle 1000 is illustrated. The tread cradle 1000 comprises a base 1012. The base 1012 may comprise polymer foams, ethylene and vinyl acetate (EVA), or polyurethane, or a combination thereof. The base 1012 may provide cushioning, such that the cushioning provided by the combination of the tread cradle 1000 and footwear (not depicted) is greater than the cushioning provided by the footwear by itself. As such, this may be advantageous for athletes recovering from injury who require more cushioning during, for example, warm-ups, but who wish to be ready for play without having to change footwear.

[0040] The base 1012 may have a zone 1012a. The zone 1012a may be of memory foam, EVA, or combination thereof. The zone 1012a may be treated with pressure-sensitive adhesive. The zone 1012a may provide additional reversible securing, such as by impressions in memory foam or the pressure-sensitive adhesive. The zone 1012a may provide additional cushioning, so that the tread cradle 1000 may be used for long runs.

[0041] Sidewalls 1014 extend relatively upward from the base 1012. The sidewall 1014 has an area 1014a that may comprise information, indicia of origin, decorative features, or structural features. Examples of information and/or indicia of origin include trademarks, logos, sport-specific representations (such as of a soccer ball), or a number (such as a shoe size). Examples of decorative and/or structural features include springs, viewing windows, and bladders.

[0042] Treads 1016 extend relatively downward from the base 1012. The treads 1016 may comprise blown rubber or carbon rubber, or a combination thereof. The treads 1016 may be solid, patterned, grooved, or otherwise adapted to confer fraction comparable to that provided by a running shoe. The tread cradle 1000 may be designed to look like the midsole and outsole of a running shoe.

[0043] A receptacle 1030 extends relatively upward from the base 1012 of the tread cradle 1000. The receptacle 1030 engages the cleat (not depicted) in a manner that is reversibly secure. As mentioned above, the footwear may have various patterns, including studs and/or blades, as described with reference to FIGS. 5a-5d. The tread cradle 1000 need not have substantially a mirror image correlation between the number and position of receptacles and the number and position of cleats. Rather, the number and position of receptacles 1030 correspond to a subset of reference cleats in preselected positions, allowing the receptacles to engage the reference cleat (not depicted) in a manner that is reversibly secure. Cleats that do not have corresponding receptacles interact with the zone 1012a. The reference cleats may be pre-selected based on mold continuities among certain brands, or mold continuities among certain sizes, or mold continuities due to process standardization. For example, in FIG. 10, the reference cleats are in the toe and heel regions.

[0044] Turning to FIG. 11, an alternative tread cradle 1100 is illustrated. The tread cradle 1100 comprises a base 1112. The base 1112 may comprise polymer foams, ethylene and vinyl acetate (EVA), or polyurethane, or a combination thereof. The base 1112 may provide cushioning, such that the cushioning provided by the combination of the tread cradle 1100 and footwear (not depicted) is greater than the cushioning provided by the footwear by itself. As such, this may be advantageous for athletes recovering from injury who require more cushioning during, for example, warm-ups, but who wish to be ready for play without having to change footwear.

[0045] The base 1112 may have a zone 1112a. The zone 1112a may be of memory foam, EVA, or combination thereof. The zone 1112a may be treated with pressure-sensitive adhesive. The zone 1112a may provide additional reversible securing, such as by impressions in memory foam or the pressure-sensitive adhesive. The zone 1112a may provide additional cushioning, so that the tread cradle 1100 may be used for long runs.

[0046] Sidewalls 1114 extend relatively upward from the base 1112. The sidewall 1114 has an area 1114a that may comprise information, indicia of origin, decorative features, or structural features. Examples of information and/or indicia of origin include trademarks, logos, sport-specific representations (such as of a soccer ball), or a number (such as a shoe size). Examples of decorative and/or structural features include springs, viewing windows, and bladders.

[0047] Treads 1116 extend relatively downward from the base 1112. The treads 1116 may comprise blown rubber or carbon rubber, or a combination thereof. The treads 1116 may be solid, patterned, grooved, or otherwise adapted to confer fraction comparable to that provided by a running shoe. The tread cradle 1100 may be designed to look like the midsole and outsole of a running shoe.

[0048] A receptacle 1130 extends relatively upward from the base 1112 of the tread cradle 1100. The receptacle 1130 engages the cleat (not depicted) in a manner that is reversibly secure. As mentioned above, the footwear may have various patterns, including studs and/or blades, as described with reference to FIGS. 5a-5d. The tread cradle 1100 need not have substantially a mirror image correlation between the number and position of receptacles and the number and position of cleats. Rather, the number and position of the receptacle 1130 corresponds to a key cleat in a preselected position, allowing the receptacle to engage the key cleat (not depicted) in a manner that is reversibly secure. Cleats that do not have corresponding receptacles interact with the zone 1112a. The key cleat may be pre-selected based on mold continuities among certain brands, or mold continuities among certain sizes, or mold continuities due to process standardization. For example, in FIG. 10, the key cleat is in the metatarsal region. Though not depicted, in footwear systems with replaceable cleats, the key cleat may be a specially adapted cleat that may be screwed in to provide a secure interaction with the receptacle, such as by a ball and detent engagement between the cleat and receptacle.

[0049] In operation, a tread cradle and footwear are removeably attached through a removably secure interaction between a cleat and a receptacle. Referring now to FIG. 12, a cleat 1210 of athletic footwear (not depicted) having a wear region 1210a of abrasion resistant material is inserted into a receptacle 1230, which extends from a base 1212 of a tread cradle (not depicted, but similar to that depicted in FIG. 6, or in FIG. 10, or in FIG. 11). The receptacle 1230 comprises walls 1232 defining an opening 1234.

[0050] A lip 1236 is disposed adjacent to the opening 1234. The lip 1236 is deformable and sufficiently elastic to allow the cleat 1210 to pass through the opening 1234. The lip 1236 may stretch to surround the cleat, thereby reversibly securing the cleat, and hence its attached footwear (not depicted), to the tread cradle (not depicted).

[0051] The walls 1232 further define a receptacle floor 1238. The receptacle floor 1238 may be the same material as the base 1212. The receptacle floor 1238 may contribute no additional thickness to the base 1212, or the receptacle floor may make the base thicker (such as for additional cushioning), or the receptacle floor may retain an EVA insert (not depicted) for additional cushioning beyond that provided by the base. Although not depicted, the receptacle floor 1238 may be bored out, making the base 1212 thinner, for a lower overall tread cradle profile. The receptacle floor 1238 may be treated, for example with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, to help retain the cleat 1210. As depicted, there is a small gap between the receptacle floor 1238 and the cleat 1210, such that if the walls 1232 are shaped to fit tightly with the cleat, and the cleat forced into the cradle by the weight of a user, a vacuum may develop in the gap, and thus suction forces may help to reversibly secure the cleat in the receptacle in addition to friction forces.

[0052] Referring now to FIG. 13, a cleat 1310 of athletic footwear (not depicted) having a wear region 1310a of abrasion resistant material is inserted into an alternative tread cradle (not depicted, but similar to that depicted in FIG. 6, except that this embodiment lacks uniquely-shaped receptacles, and thus may be used with a variety of cleat patterns and sizes). The tread cradle comprises a base 1312, sidewalls (not depicted, but similar to those of FIG. 6), and treads (not depicted, but similar to those of FIG. 6). The base 1312 may comprise polymer foams, ethylene and vinyl acetate (EVA), or polyurethane, or a combination thereof. A plurality of rods 1360 extend relatively upwards from the base 1312. The rods 1360 are depicted as evenly spaced, however, alternatively, the rods may be concentrated in areas corresponding to positions where cleats are traditionally found. The rods 1360 may be the same material as the base 1312. The rods 1360 engage the cleat 1310 in a frictional fit according to the stiffness of the rods and their surface composition, thus reversibly securing the cleat. The rods 1360 may be treated, for example with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, to help secure the cleat 1310. Additionally, the rods 1360 that are bent under the cleat 1310 may contribute additional cushioning.

[0053] Although not depicted, in footwear systems with replaceable cleats, the cleats may all be removed before engagement with the receptacle, thereby allowing a smaller gap between the footwear and the receptacle and/or to allow minor features become relatively more prominent once the cleats are removed. For example, a key feature (similar to that described in FIG. 11) may be provided on the footwear that is relatively shorter than the replaceable cleats, but still sufficiently long to engage the receptacle and secure the base once the replaceable cleats are removed.

[0054] Yet another tread cradle is contemplated (not depicted). This tread cradle may use any, or a combination, of the foregoing methods for engaging the cleats. However, once removed from the footwear, the tread cradle may be used as a shinguard. The receptacles or rods may be minimized to prevent discomfort to the user, while the treads would be nonaggressive patterns consistent with the exterior surfaces of a conventional shinguard.

Claims

1. A tread cradle for covering a sole of an article of footwear having at least one cleat, the tread cradle comprising: a base having first and second sides; treads disposed on the first side of the base; and disposed on the second side of the base, means for reversibly securing the cleat to the base, thereby removably attaching the article of footwear to the tread cradle.

2. The tread cradle of claim 1, wherein the means for reversibly securing the cleat to the base is a receptacle having walls that engage the cleat.

3. The tread cradle of claim 2, wherein the walls of the receptacle define an opening for receiving the cleat.

4. The tread cradle of claim 3, wherein a lip is disposed adjacent to the opening for receiving the cleat.

5. The tread cradle of claim 4, wherein the lip is elastic and deformable.

6. The tread cradle of claim 3, wherein a rib is disposed adjacent to the opening for receiving the cleat.

7. The tread cradle of claim 4, wherein a rib is disposed adjacent to the opening for receiving the cleat.

8. The tread cradle of claim 3, wherein a plurality of splines extend radially from the walls, projecting into the opening for receiving the cleat.

9. The tread cradle of claim 3, wherein the walls frictionally engage the cleat.

10. The tread cradle of claim 4, wherein the lip frictionally engages the cleat.

11. The tread cradle of claim 6, wherein the rib frictionally engages the cleat.

12. The tread cradle of claim 8, wherein the splines frictionally engage the cleat.

13. The tread cradle of claim 1, wherein the means for reversibly securing the cleat to the base are a plurality of rods that engage the cleat.

14. The tread cradle of claim 13, wherein the rods frictionally engage the cleat.

15. A method for covering a sole of an article of footwear having at least one cleat, the method comprising: providing a tread cradle having a base and means for reversibly securing the cleat to the base, thereby removably attaching the article of footwear to the tread cradle.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing the base with a tread pattern that is different from a tread pattern of the article of footwear, thereby adapting the article of footwear to be useful on a different surface.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing the tread cradle with a support section.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing the tread cradle with a pressure sensitive adhesive section.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing the tread cradle with features to facilitate use of the tread cradle as a shin guard when not attached to the footwear.

20. A method for manufacturing a tread cradle for covering a sole of an article of footwear having at least one cleat, comprising: determining the position of the at least one cleat on the footwear, and providing a receptacle on the tread cradle in a position corresponding to the position of the at least one cleat on the footwear, the receptacle being capable of reversibly securing the cleat in the receptacle, thereby removably attaching the article of footwear to the tread cradle.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing the receptacle with a tread pattern that is different from a tread pattern of the article of footwear, thereby adapting the article of footwear to be useful on a different surface.

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