CUSTOMIZABLE TRACTION ASSEMBLY KIT

Abstract

A customizable traction assembly kit which contains one or more traction devices having a non-sharp surface which are attachable to a bottom of a shoe and removable therefrom such that the one or more traction devices may be arranged in a plurality of configurations depending on the desired use.

Claims

1. A traction device for attaching to a shoe comprising: a disc having an outer circumference and an inner circumference, the inner circumference forming an inner hole, the disc having at least two surfaces, a first surface configured to face and directly contact the shoe, in an assembled state, and a second surface opposite the first surface which is entirely flat, a securing device configured to be received by the inner hole and attach the disc to the shoe in an assembled state, wherein a distal end of the securing device is flushed with the second surface of the disc in the assembled state.

2. The traction device according to claim 1, wherein the disc has an inner portion which tapers inwardly toward the inner circumference, and the distal end of the securing device tapers outwardly corresponding to the inner portion such that the distal end of the securing device fits into the inner portion of the disc.

3. The traction device according to claim 2, wherein at least the inner portion of the disc contacts with the securing device.

4. The traction device according to claim 1, wherein the outer circumference is a continuous circular line such that the disc has a circular shape.

5. The traction device according to claim 1, wherein the inner circumference is a continuous circular line such that the inner hole has a circular shape.

6. The traction device according to claim 1, wherein the disc is made from aluminum.

7. The traction device according to claim 1, wherein the securing device is attachable to the shoe in the assembled state and removable therefrom in a non-assembled state.

8. A universal traction kit in combination with footwear, comprising: a footwear having a bottom surface, at least one first traction device including a first securing device screwed directly into a bottom surface of the footwear and a first disc, the first disc having: a first surface that directly contacts the bottom surface of the footwear, and a second surface opposite to the first surface and configured to contact a ground surface during use of the footwear by a user, a first inner hole that extends completely through the first disc from the first surface to the second surface, and a first outer perimeter, and at least one second traction device including a second securing device screwed directly into the bottom surface of the footwear and a second disc, the second disc having: a first surface that directly contacts the bottom surface of the footwear, and a second surface opposite to the first surface and configured to contact a ground surface during use of the footwear by a user, a second inner hole that extends completely through the second disc from the first surface to the second surface, and a second outer perimeter, wherein the first outer perimeter is larger than the second outer perimeter so that, upon the first securing device and the second securing device being screwed into the bottom surface of the footwear, the first surface of the first disc contacts a larger surface area of the bottom surface of the footwear than the first surface of the second disc, and the second surface of the first disc contacts a larger surface area of the ground surface than the second surface of the second disc, and wherein the first inner hole of the first disc has a first inner diameter located at the first surface of the first disc and an inner portion that has a tapered inner diameter that tapers outwardly to the second surface of the first disc, wherein the second inner hole of the second disc has a first inner diameter located at the first surface of the second disc and an inner portion that has a tapered inner diameter that tapers outwardly to the second surface of the second disc, wherein the at least one first traction device and the at least one second traction device attach to separate locations of the bottom surface of the footwear in any position amongst an entirety of the bottom surface of the footwear upon the first securing device and the second securing device being screwed and penetrated into the bottom surface of the footwear, wherein the at least one first traction device and the at least one second traction device consist entirely of aluminum, wherein an outer surface of each of the first securing device and the second securing device penetrated into the bottom surface of the footwear directly contacts a rubber material that forms the bottom surface of the footwear, so that the outer surface of each of the first securing device and the second securing device, formed of the aluminum, is penetrated into the material and encircled by the rubber material, thereby securing the at least one first traction device and the at least one second traction device directly to the footwear.

9. The universal traction kit according to claim 8, wherein the at least one first traction device has a thickness in an attachment direction which is the same as a thickness in the attachment direction of the at least one second traction device.

10. The universal traction kit according to claim 9, wherein a distal end of the securing device of the at least one first traction device and the at least one second traction device is flush with an outer surface of the disc of the at least one first traction device and the at least one second traction, respectively.

11. The universal traction kit according to claim 8, wherein an outer circumference of the at least one first traction device and an outer circumference of the at least one second traction device is a continuous circular line respectively.

12. The universal traction kit according to claim 8, wherein the securing device is attachable to the shoe in the assembled state and removable therefrom in a non-assembled state.

13. A method for attaching a traction device to a shoe comprising: placing at least one disc having an outer circumference and an inner hole on a bottom surface of the shoe to directly contact the shoe, inserting a securing device into the inner hole of the disc such that a distal end of the securing device is flush with an outer surface of the disc in an assembled stated and the outer surface of the disc has an entirely flat surface.

14. The traction device according to claim 1, wherein the traction device is attached only to a sole of a shoe.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the accompanying drawing(s), in which similar elements are designated with similar numerals. The aforementioned accompanying drawings show by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, specific example embodiments and implementations consistent with principles of an example embodiment. These implementations are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice an example embodiment and it is to be understood that other implementations may be utilized and that structural changes and/or substitutions of various elements may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of an example embodiment. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be construed in a limited sense.

[0015] FIG. 1 shows a traction assembly kit having one or more traction devices attached to footwear according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a portion of a traction device according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 3 shows a schematic top view of a traction device according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0018] FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a traction device according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0019] FIGS. 5A-5B show a close-up view of a portion of a traction device according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 5A shows a schematic top view of a securing device and FIG. 5B shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a securing device according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0020] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view at 6-6 of a traction assembly kit according to an exemplary embodiment attached to a shoe;

[0021] FIG. 7 shows a side-view of a traction assembly kit according to another exemplary embodiment;

[0022] FIG. 8 shows a bottom view of a traction assembly kit according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7;

[0023] FIG. 9 shows a bottom view of a traction assembly kit according to another exemplary embodiment; and

[0024] FIG. 10 shows a side view of a traction assembly kit according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Embodiments will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following detailed descriptions are provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding or the methods, appearances, and/or systems described herein and equivalent modifications thereof. Accordingly, various changes, modification, and equivalents of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for increased clarity and conciseness.

[0026] The terms used in the description are intended to describe embodiments only, and shall by no means be restrictive. Unless clearly used otherwise, expressions in a singular form include a meaning of a plural form. In the present description, an expression such as comprising or including is intended to designate a characteristic, a number, a step, an operation, an element, a part or combinations thereof, and shall not be construed to preclude any presence or possibility of one or more other characteristics, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts or combinations thereof.

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a traction assembly kit 1 having one or more traction devices 2, 3, directly attached to a bottom surface of a shoe. As will be discussed in more detail below, the one or more traction devices 2, 3 may be attached to any portion of the bottom surface of the shoe at a plurality of locations and in a variety of configurations. The one or more traction devices 2, 3 directly contact the bottom surface (i.e. a rubber sole surface) of the shoe when attached to the shoe.

[0028] As shown in a non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 1, each traction device 2, 3 has a disc 10, 15 and a securing device 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the traction assembly kit 1 has a plurality of traction devices having a plurality of different sizes. For example, the traction assembly kit 1 as shown in FIG. 1 has a first traction device 2 which is larger in circumference than a second traction device 3.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, traction device 2, for example, has a disc 10 with an outer circumference 14 and an inner circumference 16. Similarly, second traction device 3 has a disc 15 with an outer circumference 17 and an inner circumference 19. Outer circumference 14 of a disc 10 of the first traction 2 device is larger than outer circumference 17 of disc 15 of the second traction device 3. In a non-limiting embodiment, the outer circumference 14 of disc 10 may be greater than 1 inch, or approximately 1.25 inches, and the outer circumference 17 of disc 15 may be less than 1 inch, or 0.95 inches. As discussed in more detail below, disc 10 and disc 15 have the same thickness, and preferably have a thickness of inches.

[0030] The number of different sizes of discs is not limiting, and there may be numerous discs used all having difference sizes. In a non-limiting embodiment, four disc sizes are contemplated, in which a first disc has an outer circumference of 1.24 inches, a second disc has an outer circumference of 1.04 inches, a third disc has an outer circumference of 0.96 inches, and a fourth disc has an outer circumference of 0.84 inches. That is, the change of size between the discs ranges from 0.10-0.20 inches. In another non-limiting embodiment, the discs have varying ranges such that the first disc is about the size of a nickel (0.835 inches or 21.21 mm), the second disc is about the size of a quarter (0.955 inches or 24.26 mm), and a third disc is about the size of a Susan B. Anthony dollar coin (1.04 inches, 26.5 mm). With the above sizes of the discs, the discs are large enough to provide sufficient traction, but do not take up unnecessary space on the surface of the shoe and they do not prohibit the shoe from being flexible.

[0031] The inner circumference of the disc is the same regardless of the size of the outer circumference of the disc, and is preferably 0.2-0.4 inches.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a traction assembly kit 1 having traction devices with two different circumferential sizes; however, this is not limiting and a traction assembly kit may have traction devices all of one size or of a plurality of sizes. Further, as will be discussed in more detail below, the number and arrangement of the traction devices 2, 3 as shown in FIG. 1 is non-limiting and the number of traction devices 2, 3 and their arrangement may vary depending on a desired use. For the purposes of the remaining disclosure, first traction device 2 and second traction device 3 will be referred to generally as a first traction device 2, and second traction device 3 will be presumed to be the same as (first) traction device 2 except where specifically differentiated. Similarly discs 10, 15, will be referred to generally as disc 10, and they are assumed to have the same configurations except where specifically pointed out.

[0033] Disc 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is circular in shape, however this shape is non-limiting and disc 10 may be a variety of shapes (i.e. square, oval, rectangular). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, outer circumference 14 of disc 10 is a continuous circular line such that the disc (10) has a circular shape. Further, inner circumference 16 is a continuous circular line and forms a circular shape of inner hole 18.

[0034] In a non-limiting embodiment, disc 10 may be made out of a soft malleable metallic material such that the disc can grip the ground surface and provide traction on slippery surfaces. In a non-limiting embodiment, the metallic material is aluminum or another similar metal. A traction assembly kit 1 of aluminum discs 10 increases longevity of the shoe and may be worn on numerous occasions. For example, during testing the discs maintained high performance for approximately 70 fishing trips.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, disc 10 has an inner hole 18 defined by inner circumference 16. Inner hole 18 is shaped and configured to receive securing device 12. Inner hole 18 is shown in FIG. 2 as being a circular shape, however this shape is non-limiting and inner hole 18 may have any shape capable of receiving securing device 12. Regardless of the outer circumference size of a disc of a traction device, inner hole 18 will be the same for all traction devices 2, 3 in a same traction assembly kit 1. Thus, a same size securing device 12 may be used for any sized traction device 2, 3 in a traction assembly kit 1.

[0036] Securing device 12 is configured to be inserted into inner hole 18 so as to be flush with an outer surface of disc 10. As shown in FIG. 2, disc 10 has at least two surfaces opposite each another in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the shoe (i.e an attachment direction) as shown as the X direction in FIG. 2. A first surface 20 is configured to face and directly contact the bottom surface of a shoe, in an assembled state. In a non-limiting embodiment, the first surface 20 is adjacent to the bottom surface of the shoe in an assembled state such that there is nothing in between or separating the first surface 20 and the bottom of the shoe. A second surface 22, opposite the first surface, is provided as an exterior surface when assembled on the shoe and contacts with the ground or surface which a person is walking or traveling upon. As shown in FIG. 2, second surface 22 has an outer portion 24 which is flat for contacting with the ground. Second surface 22 is adjacent to an inner portion 26 which tapers inwardly in an axial direction toward the inner circumference 16 of disc 10. Therefore, the entire second surface 22 which contacts with the ground is flat. The second surface 22 is considered to be entirely flat even if it has a beveled, tapered, or slightly angled edge surface next to second surface 22 as shown in FIG. 2, and if there is no bevel present and there is a flat edge surface or a 90 degree corner cut next to the second surface 22 as shown in FIG. 4. These embodiments would not depart from the scope of this invention as the second surface 22, which is configured to contact with the ground, is flat.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a securing device 12 is received in inner hole 18 for attaching disc 10 to a bottom surface of a shoe. As shown in FIG. 4, a distal end 28 of securing device 12 tapers radially outward at tapering portion 29. This tapering portion 29 of securing device 12 tapers outwardly to correspond to the inward taper of inner portion 26 of disc 10. In a non-limiting embodiment, taper portion 29 extends outwardly at an angle of approximately 77 degrees. In a non-limiting embodiment, inner portion 26 of disc 10 contacts with tapering portion 29 of securing device 12 to attach and secure the traction device 2 to a bottom of a shoe. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, tapering portion 29 may fit into inner portion 26 such that distal end 28 of securing device 12 may be planar, or aligned on the same plane with, outer portion 24 of disc 10 when securing device 12 is inserted into inner hole 18 and the traction device 2 is in an assembled state. In other words, a portion (i.e. tapering portion 29) of the securing device 12 is recessed into the disc 10 such that an outer surface of the securing device 12 at distal end 28 is flush with an outer surface of disc 10 (i.e. a flat surface of outer portion 24). Therefore, the entire second surface 22 (including distal end 28 of securing device) is flat.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, securing device 12 may be a conventional screw, such as a Phillips screw, flat head screw, or torx-head screw, or any similar securing means that may be fastened by a conventional screw-driver. As discussed above, the one or more traction devices 2, 3 may have varying circumferences; however, the size and shape of inner hole 18 for receiving the securing device will be the same for each traction device 2, 3. That is, the same size securing device 12 may be used regardless of the outer circumference size of the traction device 2, 3. In a non-limiting embodiment, distal end 28 of securing device 12 has a torx-head screw as shown in FIG. 5B. Further, an end opposite distal end 28 may be relatively flat and non-sharp.

[0039] The example embodiments discussed in this disclosure describe a single securing device corresponding to a single disc. However, this embodiment is not limiting as multiple securing devices may be used for a single disc and/or a single securing device may be used for multiple discs.

[0040] In a non-limiting embodiment securing device 12 is made of the same material as the disc 10, which may be a metal, such as aluminum for example. Having the securing device 12 and the disc 10 made from the same material improves the durability of the traction device.

[0041] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view across line 6-6 in FIG. 1 and illustrates an attachment of one or more traction devices 2 to a bottom surface of a shoe. As shown in FIG. 6, the securing device 12 is recessed into disc 10 such that securing device 12 is flush with disc 10. Traction device(s) 2 extend outwardly from a bottom surface of a shoe as shown in FIG. 6, and are not recessed into the shoe. As shown in FIG. 6, surface 20 of disc 10 is flat and directly contacts with a bottom surface of a shoe. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, each traction device 2 has a thickness or depth d. During testing it was determined that the thickness of the disc was preferably inch thick. For example, if the discs are too thick the discs had reduced traction and the discs were bulky and became loose easily. However, if the discs were too thin there was also reduced traction and the discs wore down quickly and easily. As discussed above, traction devices 2, 3 of this invention may have different circumferences; however, all traction devices 2, 3 of one shoe will have the same thickness or depth d to allow for easier walking.

[0042] A method of attaching a traction assembly kit 1 to footwear or a shoe will now be described. A traction assembly kit 1 is a prepackaged kit having multiple traction devices 2, 3, for example. In a non-limiting embodiment, the traction assembly kit 1 will be provided with at least one or more first traction devices 2 and one or more second traction devices 3 where the first traction devices have larger circumferences than the second traction devices 3, respectively. As discussed above, the traction assembly kit 1 may have traction devices of varying sizes, and may have multiple different sizes, such as four different sizes for example.

[0043] The traction devices 2 may be attached directly to a bottom surface of a shoe to directly contact a bottom surface of the shoe. As shown in FIG. 6, the securing device 12 is inserted into an inner hole 18 of a disc 10 and is screwed into a sole of a shoe using a conventional fastening means, such as a screw driver. The traction assembly kit 1 may be attached to any conventional shoe, and preferably to a shoe having rubber sole or a sole of a similarly soft material. Given the soft material of the sole of the shoe, the securing device 12 may be attached to the shoe by screwing the securing device 12 with a screwdriver, for example. In a non-limiting embodiment, the thickness of the sole of the shoe is approximately inch thick such that the securing device 12 penetrates the sole of the shoe, but does not go past the sole of the shoe and hit or contact a person's foot, for example. In a non-limiting embodiment, the sole of the shoe has a thickness e of an inch and he securing device 12 has a length f of inch. The securing device 12 is inserted into the sole of the sole approximately inch in the sole, as shown by length g in FIG. 6. That is, distance d of the disc is the length of the securing device, the width of the sole, and is the distance that the securing device is inserted into the sole. During testing it was determined that this range was the best so that the screw fit firmly into the sole of the shoe, and did not fall out of the shoe. Further, with these dimensions there is approximately inch between the securing device and an inner edge of the sole which ensure that the securing device does not penetrate the sole completely or contact the foot.

[0044] Depending on a person's weight, shoe size, and desired use, a person can assemble the traction devices 2 in multiple configurations or arrangements on a shoe. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the traction assembly kit 1 may be assembled on the shoe such that two first traction devices 2 are attached to the shoe and nine second traction devices 3 are attached to the shoe. Further, for example, depending on a person's weight, a person may want to have more traction devices at the ball of the shoe than at the heel of the shoe as shown in FIG. 1. In an assembled state, a desired number of traction devices are attached to a bottom of a shoe such that they do not fall off when a person is walking.

[0045] After assembling the traction assembly kit 1 to the shoe, the traction devices 2 may also be removed from the shoe if desired and reattached at different locations on the bottom of the shoe or used on another shoe. During testing it was determined that the holes on the soles of the shoes that remain after the securing devices have been removed are miniscule and they do not deteriorate the sole. Further during testing, the holes previous put into the soles were able to be reused and utilized again. For example, a first traction device 2 may be attached to a bottom of a shoe at first location and a second traction device 3 may be attached to a bottom of a shoe at a second location to form a first configuration in an assembled-state. The first and second traction devices may be removed and the first traction device 2 may be reattached to a bottom of a shoe a third location and the second traction device 3 may be reattached to a bottom of a shoe at a fourth location to form a second configuration. In this non-limiting embodiment, the first location, second location, third location, and fourth location are all located at different positions on the bottom of the shoe. As the traction devices 2, 3 are screwed into the sole of the shoe, the traction devices may be attached anywhere on the bottom of the shoe that can receive the securing device 12, and may be placed in any arrangement or configuration as desired by the user.

[0046] Thus, the traction assembly kit 1 may be customizable based on the user's weight or size of shoe. For example, as noted above, the user may desire more traction devices at the ball of the foot as opposed to the heel as shown in FIG. 1, or if the user has a larger foot size, the user may choose to have more of the first traction devices 2 with a larger circumference than the second traction devices 3.

[0047] In a non-limiting embodiment, the traction assembly kit 1 is attached only to the sole of a sole such that there is no strap or other device wrapped around the circumference of the shoe. That is, there is no attachment on the top portion of the shoe. The shoe's traction device is only attached to the sole of the shoe which includes the bottom surface of the sole as well as the side surface of the sole as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The discs are configured to be attached vertically to the bottom of the sole and horizontally to the side edges of the sole as shown in FIG. 7. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the discs may be attached to the side edges of the shoe such that they have outer surfaces which are perpendicular to the bottom of the shoe.

[0048] In a non-limiting embodiment, the traction assembly kit 1 may also be provided with a drill bit (not shown) for drilling a hole into a bottom surface of a shoe prior to attaching the securing device 12 to the shoe. While a drill is not needed, it may provide easier attachment of the traction device 2 to the shoe. As noted above, since the inner hole 18 of each traction device 2 is the same size and the same size screw may be used for each traction device 2 only one size drill bit is needed in the traction assembly kit.

[0049] With the traction assembly kit described above, a user may use the same traction assembly kit and the same traction devices for different activities. For example, if a user is going caving or spelunking it may be desirable for a user to have traction devices placed only at the heel of the show as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 such that the user may easily maneuver the surfaces as found while hiking or climbing or walking through mines or the like. However, if a user is fly-fishing, the user may want to place traction device over the entire surface of the shoe. With the traction assembly kit described above, a user may use the same traction devices and the same traction assembly kit for both caving and fly-fishing. The user may customize where the traction devices are placed on the shoe depending on the type of activity that the user is participating in.

[0050] Although a few example embodiments have been shown and described, these example embodiments are provided to convey the subject matter described herein to people who are familiar with this field. It should be understood that the subject matter described herein may be embodied in various forms without being limited to the described example embodiments. The subject matter described herein can be practiced without those specifically defined or described matters or with other or different elements or matters not described. It will be appreciated by those familiar with this field that changes may be made in these example embodiments without departing from the subject matter described herein as defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. Further, any description of structural arrangement of components or relationship there between is merely for explanation purposes and should be used to limit an example embodiment.

[0051] Aspects related to the example embodiment have been set forth in part in the description above, and in part should be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of embodiments of the application. Aspects of the example embodiment may be realized and attained using the elements and combinations of various elements and aspects particularly pointed out in the foregoing detailed description and the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing descriptions are an example and are explanatory only and are not intended to be limiting.