Golf shoe with outsole having flex channels and wave-like traction members

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020046072-A1
Application number	US-201816226881-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 20, 2018
Priority date	Aug 10, 2018
Publication date	Feb 13, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

Golf shoes having improved outsole constructions are provided. The outsole contains flex channels that provide flexibility when a person is walking or playing a golf course. The outsole further includes traction members having a serrated, wave-like structure. These traction members make high contact with the ground surface and provide high traction, stability, and support for the golfer. The outsole may further include removable spikes that are fastened to receptacles. These spikes can be arranged in different patterns and they provide additional support and traction.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A golf shoe comprising:
an upper, an outsole, and a midsole connected to the upper and outsole, the upper, midsole, and outsole each having forefoot, mid-foot, and rear-foot regions and lateral and medial sides; and the outsole comprising
a plurality of traction members,
a plurality of flex channels,
each flex channel being disposed between a set of anterior and posterior traction members, the flex channels and traction members extending in a substantially transverse direction, wherein the flex channels have a linear channel structure and the traction members have a sine-wave structure.

2 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the lengths of both the anterior and posterior traction members in a given set of traction members are greater than the length of the flex channel that is disposed between the anterior and posterior traction members of that set.

3 . The golf shoe of claim 2 , wherein the lengths of both the anterior and posterior traction members are in the range of about 14 to about 85 mm and the length of the flex channel is in the range of about 8 to about 40 mm.

4 . The golf shoe of claim 2 , wherein the depth of the flex channel is about 2 mm.

5 . The golf shoe of claim 2 , wherein the sine-wave structure for each of the anterior and posterior traction members contains at least two wave peaks.

6 . The golf shoe of claim 5 , wherein the height of the peaks is in the range of about 2 to about 4 mm.

7 . The golf shoe of claim 5 , wherein the distance between the peaks is in the range of about 10 to about 50 mm.

8 . The golf shoe of claim 5 , wherein the sine-wave structure for a first portion of the traction members contains three wave peaks and the sine-wave structure for a second portion of the traction members contains four wave peaks.

9 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of cone-shaped traction members extending along the lateral and medial sides of the outsole.

10 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of triangular-shaped traction members extending along the lateral side of the outsole.

11 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of grooves extending along the medial side of the outsole and adjacent to the traction members and substantially parallel to the flex channels.

12 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the outsole further includes a substantially rectangular-shaped groove in the arch area.

13 . The golf shoe of claim 12 , wherein the groove includes a visible logo.

14 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein there is at least one set of anterior and posterior traction members with no flex channel disposed there between.

15 . A golf shoe comprising:
an upper, an outsole, and a midsole connected to the upper and outsole, the upper, midsole, and outsole each having forefoot, mid-foot, and rear-foot regions and lateral and medial sides; and the outsole comprising
a plurality of traction members,
a plurality of flex channels,
each flex channel being disposed between a set of anterior and posterior traction members, the flex channels and traction members extending in a substantially transverse direction, wherein the flex channels have a linear channel structure and the traction members have a sine-wave structure; and
a plurality of receptacles integrated into the outsole for selectively attaching a plurality of removable spikes.

16 . The golf shoe of claim 15 , wherein there are at least two opposing receptacles and at least one traction member extends between the opposing receptacles.

17 . The golf shoe of claim 15 , wherein a first portion of the receptacles are located on the medial side of the outsole and a second portion of the receptacles are located on the lateral side of the outsole.

18 . The golf shoe of claim 17 , further comprising a receptacle located at the tip of the forefoot region.

19 . The golf shoe of claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of cone-shaped traction members located adjacent to the receptacles on the medial side of the outsole.

20 . The golf shoe of claim 15 , wherein there are nine receptacles located on the outsole.

Assignees

• Acushnet Co

Inventors

• Bento Robert S
• Weddle Daren S

Classifications

• A43B13/141

  with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion · CPC title

• A43B13/26

  projecting beyond the sole surface · CPC title

• A43B13/223

  Profiled soles · CPC title

• A43C15/16 Primary

  Studs {or cleats} for football or like boots · CPC title

• A43B5/001

  Golf shoes · CPC title