Adjustable depth traction device for an athletic shoe

#The present invention generally relates to athletic shoes, and more particularly relates to traction devices for athletic shoes.

#Athletic shoes currently employ a number of different soles to provide various degrees of traction depending upon the surface being used. With outdoor activities, for example golf, a plurality of spikes have traditionally been provided on the base or sole of the shoe to allow for the shoe to puncture the surface of the ground and thereby provide traction in the relatively soft turf. The spikes have typically been manufactured from metal which serve well to provide the traction, but do become worn especially when used to traverse harder surfaces such as pavement and sidewalks which thereby requires the user to change the spikes periodically. As a result, the spikes are often threadably attached to the sole of the shoe.

#One recent development in the golfing community has been the banning of such elongated metal spikes on many courses. It has been found that the metal spikes damage the turf of the course to a degree which is unsatisfactory to the proprietors of such golf courses. As a result, many courses now require that a smaller depth spike, typically manufactured from plastic or rubber, be used on the sole of the shoe. Rather than provide a single elongated metal spike, the newer plastic or rubberized traction devices typically include a number of different protrusions each of which is shorter in length than the typical elongated metal spike. While the shorter depth of such a plastic or rubberized traction device does alleviate many of the turf damage problems associated with elongated metal spikes, many players still wish to use the elongated metal spike. This is especially true with courses which are especially wet or which have terrain wherein the elongated metal spikes would be most advantageous.

#FIG. 1 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention fully assembled;

#FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of a portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

#FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of the portion shown in FIG. 2A, but with the traction device assembled;

#While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

#Referring now to the drawings, and with particular reference to FIG. 1 the preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted as traction device 20. As shown therein, a plurality of traction devices 20 will typically be attached to sole 22 of athletic shoe 24. It is to be understood that the actual number of traction devices 20 is not of importance to the present invention but rather the actual design of traction device 20 is the focus of this invention. Moreover, while athletic shoe 24 is depicted as a golf shoe, it is to be understood that the present invention can be employed on any type of shoe wherein variable degrees of traction are required for proper usage. For example, athletic shoe 24 can be a shoe for use in playing football, soccer, baseball, lacrosse, mountain climbing, or any other outdoor activity.

#Turning now to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2-3 as being comprised of base 26 and insert 28. As will readily be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, if base 26 is used by itself, it will have a first length or depth of penetration α, while if an insert 28 is attached to base 26, the combined length or depth of penetration will be much greater as represented by β. By providing a means by which insert 28 can be easily attached and detached from base 26, as will be described in further detail herein, the user of traction device 20 can tailor the athletic shoe to the given situation.