Bowling Shoe Kit With Interchangeable Slide Pads

Abstract

A bowling shoe kit is provided including a shoe upper, a shoe sole mounted to the shoe upper and having a slide area extending longitudinally from a toe end of the sole rearwardly towards an arch portion thereof, at least one slide pad having a peripheral margin substantially equal to a peripheral margin of the slide area and extending laterally substantially across an entire width of the sole, and a fastener removably securing the slide pad to the slide area. The slide pad includes a first area having a first coefficient of friction, a second area having a second coefficient of friction, and a third area having a third coefficient of friction, wherein the first coefficient of friction is different from the third coefficient of friction, and the second coefficient of friction presents a transition from the first coefficient of friction to the third coefficient of friction.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to shoes for bowling. More particularly, the present invention relates to bowling shoes with removable slide pads, each having a plurality of sections with varying coefficients of friction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Each bowler has a unique style that they use during their approach to a bowling lane and during their ball release motion. Moreover, the bowling lanes and approaches are not uniformly conditioned. Thus, bowlers require bowling shoes that can be adjusted to accommodate their particular style and the various surface conditions that can be encountered.

Experienced bowlers often desire that each of the left and right shoes exhibit different characteristics, especially with respect to sliding friction on the smooth, wooden or synthetic floors typically present in the approach region of a bowling lane. Moreover, even for one or the other of the left or right shoe, such bowler typically desires a different sliding characteristic on the forefoot portion of the shoe sole verses the heel portion of that shoe sole. In yet a further customization, the bowler may desire that the friction characteristics of each forepart and heel be adjustable depending on, for example, the surface characteristics of the bowling center in which a particular competition is staged, the day-to-day changes in temperature and humidity in the bowling center, or increase in confidence as the bowler warms up and reaches peak performance

One of the problems associated with conventional bowling shoes having fixed shoe soles is that a bowler must purchase many pairs of bowling shoes to adjust to various bowling surface conditions, as well as each bowler's style preferance. Additionally, the ball and heel portions of the shoe often become worn out due to increased stress exerted on these portions, thus rendering the whole shoe unusable to the bowler.

To solve these problems, the bowling shoes are often provided with removable pads attached to the underside of the shoe sole to allow the bowler to adjust the friction of the shoe. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,246,453 to Kim, U.S. Pat. No. 6,598,324 to Tsuji, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,198 to Famolare describe bowling shoes with interchangeable foreparts and interchangeable heels on the same shoe, but not on either shoe. Other known bowling shoes include the shoes that have interchangeable inserts that may be attached to either a left or right shoe outsole. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,672,077 to Coles discloses a shoe with removable cleats/inserts attached to a plurality of spaced recesses in the shoe sole, which allows the user may to selectively replace individual inserts that have different coefficients of friction to achieve desired degrees of traction on the bowling surface. U.S. Pat. No. 6,662,476 to Lind, U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,360 to Lind, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,973 to Lind all relate to a pad that is interchangeable with another pad, wherein each pad is removably attached to either the left or the right shoe, and wherein each pad is different than the next pad.

However, the pads or inserts provided in the above-cited patents seem to be limited to a section of the overall bottom surface of the shoe, as opposed to covering the entire bottom surface. This limited size relative to the overall bottom surface may be important in permitting the pad to be attached to either the left or right shoe. Additionally, when the pads or inserts cover only a portion of the overall bottom surface of the shoe sole, the peripheral shoe sole material makes contact with the bowling surface, which negatively affects the movement of the bowler.

Another disadvantage of the known pads or inserts described above is that each of the pads has a single coefficient of friction over the entire bottom surface of the pad. During the bowling stride, a forepart of the shoe sole typically goes through a motion wherein different areas of the forepart make contact with the bowling lane surface at different times. Thus, it is advantageous to have a slide pad attachable to the forefoot portion of the shoe sole that has areas with different coefficient of friction to allow the bowler to precisely control the sliding action of the shoe. Further, it is preferable to have a smooth transition between the areas with different coefficients of friction to provide more precise and even control over the sliding of the bowling shoe.

A removable heel insert product, H5 Saw Tooth Heel, sold by the applicant Dexter Shoe Company, is designed to attach to a heel portion of a bowling shoe outsole to provide varying degrees of braking. The heel insert has three zones with varying coefficient of friction and two transition zones. However, the H5 Saw Tooth Heel product is not capable of being attached to the forefoot part of the bowling shoe and is not designed to providing varying sliding characteristics. Furthermore, the transition zones provided on the product do not extend laterally substantially across the entire width of the shoe sole, and thus do not provide a uniform smooth transition between the zones with different traction characteristics.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a bowling footwear kit that has removable foreparts and heel parts made out of various sliding materials to enable a bowler to improve sliding on varying bowling lane surface conditions. It would also be desirable to provide a bowling footwear kit that includes improved slide pads having areas with different coefficients of friction that are connected by transition zones to provide a smooth transition from one coefficient of friction to the other. It would further be desirable to have slide pads with the plurality of areas, wherein each area covers the entire lateral bottom surface of a slide area of the shoe sole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a bowling footwear kit that has removable slide pads, wherein each pad has a plurality of areas with varying coefficient of friction made connected by smooth transition areas to enable a bowler to improve sliding on varying bowling lane surface conditions, wherein each area extends laterally substantially across an entire width of the slide pad.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a bowling footwear kit with improved removable slide pads that cover the entire lateral bottom surface of a slide area of the shoe sole.

It is yet a further objective of the present invention to provide a bowling footwear kit having interchangeable slide pads that can be applied to either the left or right shoe.

These and other objectives are achieved by a bowling shoe kit, including a shoe upper, a shoe sole mounted to the shoe upper and having a slide area extending longitudinally from a toe end of the shoe sole rearwardly towards an arch portion thereof, and extending laterally substantially across an entire width of the shoe sole, at least one slide pad having a peripheral margin substantially equal to a peripheral margin of the slide area, and a fastener removably securing the at least one slide pad to the slide area, wherein the at least one slide pad substantially covers the slide area. The least one slide pad includes a first area extending from a front portion of the slide area rearwardly to a rear portion of the first area and having a first coefficient of friction, a second area extending from the rear portion of the first area rearwardly to a rear portion of the second area and having a second coefficient of friction, and a third area extending from the rear portion of the second area rearwardly toward a rear portion of the slide area and having a third coefficient of friction, wherein the first coefficient of friction is different from the third coefficient of friction, and the second coefficient of friction presents a transition from the first coefficient of friction to the third coefficient of friction.

In some embodiments, the fastener comprises hook and pile fastener system attached to the slide area of the shoe sole and the at least one slide pad.

In certain embodiments, the at least one slide pad is secured to the slide area by the fastener along a portion of the slide area. In some of these embodiments, a lateral section of the at least one slide pad is not secured to the slide area.

In some advantageous embodiments, the at least one slide pad is secured to the slide area by the fastener along the entire slide area.

In certain embodiments, the first area comprises a first material, the third area comprises a third material, and the second area comprises a saw tooth design of the first material and the third material.

In some cases, each of the first, second and third areas extend laterally substantially across an entire width of the slide pad.

In some embodiments, the bowling shoe kit further includes a plurality of heel pads, each having a different coefficient of friction, and a heel fastener for removably securing a selected heel pad to a heel portion of the shoe sole, wherein the plurality of heel pads are interchangeable to vary the coefficient of friction of the heel portion of the shoe sole. In certain of these embodiments, the heel fastener comprises hook and pile fastener system attached to said heel portion of said show sole and the selected heel pad. In certain of these embodiments, each of the plurality of heel pads includes a first heel area extending from a front portion of the heel area rearwardly to a rear portion of the first heel area and having a first heel coefficient of friction, a second heel area extending from the rear portion of the first heel area rearwardly to a rear portion of the second heel area and having a second heel coefficient of friction, and a third heel area extending from the rear portion of the second heel area rearwardly toward a rear portion of the heel area and having a third coefficient of friction, wherein the first heel coefficient of friction is different from the third heel coefficient of friction, and the second heel coefficient of friction presents a transition from the first heel coefficient of friction to the third heel coefficient of friction. In some of these embodiments, the first heel area comprises a first heel material, the third heel area comprises a third heel material, and the second heel area comprises a saw tooth design of the first heel material and the third heel material.

In certain embodiments, the slide area includes an area from one half to about three fourths of the distance between the toe end of the shoe and a heel end of the shoe. In other embodiments, the slide area includes an area from about three eighths to about five eighths of a distance between the toe end of the shoe and a heel end of the shoe.

In some embodiments, the at least one slide pad further includes a fourth area extending from the rear portion of the third area rearwardly toward a rear portion of the fourth area and having a fourth coefficient of friction, and a fifth area extending from the rear portion of the fourth area toward the rear portion of the slide area and having a fifth coefficient of friction, wherein the fifth coefficient of friction is different from the third coefficient of friction, and the fourth coefficient of friction presents a transition from the third coefficient of friction to the fifth heel coefficient of friction. In certain of these embodiments, the third area comprises a third material, the fifth area comprises a fifth material, and the fourth area comprises a saw tooth design of the third material and the fifth material.

In certain embodiments, the peripheral margin of the at least one slide pad substantially matches the peripheral margin of the slide area of both the left shoe and the right shoe, such that the slide pad may be mounted to the left shoe and to the right shoe.

A slide pad for a bowling shoe in also provided, including a first area extending from a front portion of the slide area rearwardly to a rear portion of the first area and having a first coefficient of friction, a second area extending from the rear portion of the first area rearwardly to a rear portion of the second area and having a second coefficient of friction, a third area extending from the rear portion of the second area rearwardly toward a rear portion of the slide area and having a third coefficient of friction, and a fastener for removable attachment to a sole of the bowling shoe, wherein the first coefficient of friction is different from the third coefficient of friction, and the second coefficient of friction presents a transition from the first coefficient of friction to the third coefficient of friction, and wherein, when attached to the sole, the slide pad substantially covers a slide area of the sole extending longitudinally from a toe end of the sole rearwardly towards an arch portion thereof, and extending laterally substantially across an entire width of the sole.

In some embodiments, the fastener includes a first part if a two-part fastener for attaching to a second part of the two-part fastener which is disposed on the slide area of the shoe.

In certain embodiments, the slide pad is secured to the slide area by the fastener along a portion of the slide area. In some of these embodiments, a lateral section of the slide pad is not secured to the slide area.

In some embodiments, the slide pad is secured to the slide area by the fastener along the entire slide area.

In certain advantageous embodiments, the first area comprises a first material, the third area comprises a third material, and the second area comprises a saw tooth design of the first material and the third material.

In some cases, when attached to the slide area of the shoe, the slide pad covers an area from one half to about three fourths of the distance between the toe end of the shoe and a heel end of the shoe. In other embodiments, when attached to the slide area of the shoe, the slide pad covers an area from about three eighths to about five eighths of a distance between the toe end of the shoe and a heel end of the shoe.

In certain embodiments, each of the first, second and third areas extend laterally substantially across an entire width of the slide pad.

In some advantageous embodiments, a peripheral margin of the slide pad substantially matches a peripheral margin of the slide area of both a left shoe and a right shoe, such that the slide pad may be mounted to the left shoe and to the right shoe.

In certain advantageous embodiments, the slide pad has a proximal end and a distal end, and a peripheral margin of the proximal end substantially matches the peripheral margin of the distal end, such that either the proximal end or the distal end of the slide pad is attachable to the toe end of the shoe. In some of these embodiments, one of the proximal end and the distal end of the slide pad is cut to substantially correspond to a peripheral margin of the toe end of the shoe before attaching the slide pad to the shoe sole.

The particular details and benefits of the present invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art based on the following description with reference to the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bowling shoe and an attachable slide pad comprising a bowling footwear kit of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the slide pad of the bowling footwear kit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the slide pad of the bowling footwear kit of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are bottom view of the slide pad of FIG. 4, showing the cut line.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the slide pad of the bowling footwear kit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a heel pad of the bowling footwear kit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bowling footwear kit with the attachable heel pad of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures in which identical elements are numbered identically throughout, a description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be provided.

An exemplary embodiment of a bowling shoe kit of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The bowling shoe kit 10 includes a shoe upper 12 and a shoe sole 14 mounted to the shoe upper. The shoe upper 12 is conventional in construction, and is preferably constructed from leather materials. However, it should be understood that any other suitable material may be used for the shoe upper in accordance with the present invention. The shoe sole 14 is preferably constructed from ethelyne vinyl acetate (EVA), although other conventional shoe sole materials are also suitable.

The shoe sole 14 has a traction surface 16 that typically comes into contact with a bowling lane surface during bowling. The traction surface includes a slide area 18 extending longitudinally from a toe end of the shoe sole 14 rearwardly towards an arch area portion of the sole. The slide area 18 is designed to receive a removably attachable slide pad, which is described in more detail below. The size of the slide area 18 may vary depending on a desired level of sliding. In some advantageous embodiments, the slide area 18 extends from about one half to about three fourths of the distance between the front of the shoe and the back of each shoe. In other advantageous embodiments of the present invention, the slide area 18 extends from about three eighths to about five eighths of the distance between the toe end of the shoe and the back of the shoe.

The bowling shoe kit 10 further includes a slide pad 20 removably attachable to the slide area 18 of the shoe, as shown in FIG. 1. The slide pad 20 has a bottom surface 22 for contacting the surface of the bowling lane and a mounting surface 24 for attachment to the shoe sole 14. The slide pad 20 functions to cover a portion of the traction surface 16 of the shoe outsole 14 to provide a predetermined traction characteristic which affects the amount of adhesive friction between the shoe sole 14 and the surface on which it is placed. A traction characteristic of the slide pad 20 can be varied by changing the coefficient of friction associated with the material used to form the slide pad. Thus, traction characteristics of the slide pad 20 may be varied by using materials having a high coefficient of friction, such as rubber or the like, or a low coefficient of friction, such as leather or the like. Additionally, the traction characteristics of the slide pad 20 may be varied by providing a different size, shape and design of the bottom surface of the slide pad that contacts the floor surface, for example, by varying the surface area of the slide pas that comes into contact with the floor surface, or by adjusting the shapes of the regions of the slide pad that contact the floor surface.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the slide pad 20 of the present invention. The slide pad is shaped to correspond to the shape of the slide area 18 of the shoe sole 14 and has a front end 23 and a rear end 25. The bottom surface 22 of the slide pad 20 includes three separate areas. A first area 26 of the slide pad extends from the front end 23 of the slide pad rearwardly to a rear portion of the first area 26. A second area 27 extends from the rear portion of the first area 26 rearwardly to a rear portion of the second area. A third area 28 extends from the rear portion of the second area 27 rearwardly toward the rear end 25 of the slide pad. In certain advantageous embodiments, each of the first, second and third areas extend laterally substantially across an entire width of the slide pad.

A coefficient of friction of the first area 26 is different from a coefficient of friction of the third area 28, and a coefficient of friction of the second area 25 presents a transition from the first area's coefficient of friction to the third area's coefficient of friction. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the first and third areas 26, 27 are each made out of a sheet of flexible material having a different coefficient of friction and/or traction characteristic, and the second area 27 is created by a saw tooth design of the first area's material and the second area's material. It should be noted, however, that any other design may be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention as long as it provides a smooth transition area between the first and third areas of the slide pad.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the bowling shoe kit 10 of the present invention further includes a fastener for removably securing the slide pad 20 to the slide area 18 of the shoe sole 14. Any known fastener system that allows for releasable attachment of a first body to a second body may be used in accordance with the present invention. In one advantageous embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the fastener is a hook and pile fastener system including a first fastener part 30 secured to the mounting surface 24 of the slide pad 20 and a second fastener part 32 secured to the slide area 18 of the shoe sole 14. The first fastener part 30 is a hook portion of the fastener system and the second fastener part 32 is a pile part of the fastener system, although the opposite configuration would be equally effective. The hook portion and the pile portion may be attached to the mating faces by any suitable customary means, such as by adhesive or bonding.

When attached to the slide area 18 of the shoe sole 14, the slide pad 20 extends laterally substantially across the entire width of the shoe sole such that the slide pad substantially covers the entire toe area of the shoe. Such design is advantageous is that it prevents the peripheral shoe sole material from making contact with the bowling surface, which affects the sliding/traction characteristics of the bowling shoe. This shoe construction provides a consistent “feel” and amount of traction to the wearer, and allows the shoe to function as though the entire shoe sole was constructed from the materials that comprise the slide pad.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the slide pad 20 is secured to the slide area 18 by the fastener 30, 32 along the entire slide area. It is understood, however, that the slide pad 20 may be attached to the slide area 18 of the shoe sole 14 along a portion of the slide area. For example, the slide pad 20 may not be secured to the slide area 18 along a lateral section of the slide pad 20.

In another advantageous embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the slide pad 34 has a first end 33 and a second end 35, the first end 33 having a peripheral margin that substantially matches a peripheral margin of the second end 35. Such design allows for either the first end 33 or the second end 35 of the slide pad 34 to be attached to the toe end of the shoe. In particular, as shown in FIG. 4A, before the slide pad 34 is attached to the bowling shoe, the pad 34 may be trimmed/cut along the line 36, which corresponds to the peripheral margin of the toe end of the shoe sole such. After the slide is trimmed, the slide pad 34 is attached to the shoe sole with the first end 33 being positioned over the toe end of the shoe. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4B, the slide pad 34 may be cut along the line 37, such that the second end 35 of the slide pad is attached to the toe end of the shoe. The design of the slide pad illustrated in FIG. 3 is advantageous in that it maximizes the options available to the bowler to adjust the bowling shoe's sliding characteristics to suit the bowler's individual needs.

FIG. 5 illustrates yet another advantageous embodiment of the slide pad of the present invention. In this embodiment, the slide pad 40 includes a first area 42, a second area 44, a third area 46, a fourth area 48 and a fifth area 50. The fourth area 48 extends from a rear portion of the third area 46 rearwardly toward a rear portion of the fourth area, and the fifth area 50 extends from the rear portion of the fourth area 48 toward the rear portion of the slide area 18. The fifth area 50 has a coefficient of friction different from the coefficient of friction of the third area 46, and the fourth area 48 has a coefficient of friction that presents a transition between the coefficients of friction of the third and fifth areas. In some embodiments, the third, fourth, and fifth coefficients of friction are different from the first and second coefficients of friction. In other embodiments, at least two of the five areas of the slide pad 20 may have same coefficients of friction, depending on the desired sliding characteristics of the pad. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the fourth area 48 is formed by a saw tooth design of a material of the third area 46 and a material of the fifth area 50.

The bowling shoe kit 10 of the present invention may further include a heel pad 60 removably securable to the shoe sole 14, as shown in FIG. 6. The traction surface 16 of the shoe sole 14 includes a heel portion 62. The heel pad has a bottom surface 66 that makes contact with the bowling lane surface during bowling, and a mounting surface 64 for attachment to the heel portion 62 of the shoe sole 14 via a heel fastener. Any suitable fastener type may be used in accordance with the present invention. In one advantageous embodiment, the fastener is a hook and pile fastener system, wherein a pile portion of the system is attached to the heel area 62 of the sole 14 and a hook portion of the fastener system is attached to the mounting surface of the heel pad 60, although an opposite configuration may be used as well. The hook portion and the loop portion may be attached to the mating faces by any suitable known means, such as by adhesive or bonding.

The bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of the heel pad 60 is illustrated in FIG. 7. The heel pad 60 includes a first heel area 72 extending from a front portion of the heel pad closest to the arch portion of the shoe sole 14 rearwardly to a rear portion of the first heel area 72 and having a first heel coefficient of friction. The heel pad 60 further includes a second heel area 70 extending from the rear portion of the first heel area 72 rearwardly to a rear portion of the second heel area 70 and having a second heel coefficient of friction. The heel pad also includes a third heel area 68 extending from the rear portion of the second heel area 70 rearwardly toward a rear portion of the heel pad 60 adjacent the heel end of the shoe sole 14 and having a third coefficient of friction.

The first heel coefficient of friction is preferably different from the third heel coefficient of friction, and the second heel coefficient of friction preferably presents a transition from the first heel coefficient of friction to the third heel coefficient of friction. This is achieved by using materials with different coefficients of friction for each of the heel pad areas. In one advantageous embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the second heel area 70 comprises a saw tooth design of the first heel material and the third heel material having different coefficients of friction. It is understood, however, that any other design may be used in accordance with the present invention to achieve a smooth transition zone between the first and third heel coefficients of friction.

It is understood that the bowling shoe kit of the present invention may include a plurality of slide pads removably attachable to a sole of a bowling shoe. Each of the plurality of slide pads preferably has areas made with materials having varying coefficients of friction such that the traction characteristic of each slide pad is different from another slide pad in the kit. This allows a bowler to easily change the slide/traction of the bowling shoe to adjust to particular bowling lane conditions. In additional advantageous embodiments, the bowling kit includes a plurality of interchangeable heel pads, each having a different traction characteristic/coefficient of friction for providing varying degrees of braking.

When in use, the slide pad 20 and the heel pad 60 are aligned over the slide area 18 and the heel area 62 respectively and the hook material 30 of the slide pad 20 and the heel pad 60 is firmly pressed against the loop material 32 of the slide area and the heel area to secure the slide pad and heel pad in position. When a shoe with a different traction characteristic is needed, the user simply removes one slide pad or one heel pad, or both and replaces it with another slide pad or heel pad made with different slide material, thus giving the shoe a different traction characteristic.

In some advantageous embodiments, the slide pad 20 and/or the heel pad 60 may be used on either a right shoe or a left shoe to accommodate both right-handed and left-handed bowlers. In these embodiments, the peripheral margins of the slide pad 20 and the heel pad 60 substantially correspond to the peripheral margin of the slide areas and the heel areas of both the right shoe and the left shoe. This allows for the slide pad 20 to be removably attached to the slide area on the left shoe and on the right shoe. Similarly, the heel pad 60 also may be removably attached to the heel area on the left shoe and the right shoe.

The bowling footwear kit may further include a scale that rates different coefficients of friction of the slide pad areas and heel pad areas in the kit. For example, the kit may include a one to ten scale that rates the coefficients of friction from one having the highest coefficient of friction and therefore providing the least sliding action to ten having the lowest coefficient of friction and this providing the most sliding action.

Although the invention has been described with reference to several embodiments with certain constructions, structures, ingredients and formulations and the like, these are not intended to exhaust all possible arrangements or features, and indeed many other modifications and variations will be ascertainable to those of skill in the art.

Claims

1. A bowling shoe kit, comprising:

a shoe upper;

a shoe sole mounted to the shoe upper, said shoe sole having a slide area extending longitudinally from a toe end of said shoe sole rearwardly towards an arch portion thereof, and extending laterally substantially across an entire width of said shoe sole;

at least one slide pad having a peripheral margin substantially equal to a peripheral margin of said slide area, said at least one slide pad comprising: a first area extending from a front portion of the slide area rearwardly to a rear portion of the first area and having a first coefficient of friction, a second area extending from the rear portion of the first area rearwardly to a rear portion of the second area and having a second coefficient of friction, and a third area extending from the rear portion of the second area rearwardly toward a rear portion of the slide area and having a third coefficient of friction, wherein the first coefficient of friction is different from the third coefficient of friction, and the second coefficient of friction presents a transition from the first coefficient of friction to the third coefficient of friction; and

a fastener removably securing said at least one slide pad to said slide area;

wherein said at least one slide pad substantially covers said slide area.

2. The bowling shoe kit according to claim 1, wherein said fastener comprises hook and pile fastener system attached to said slide area of said shoe sole and said at least one slide pad.

3. The bowling shoe kit according to claim 1, wherein said at least one slide pad is secured to said slide area by said fastener along a portion of the slide area.

4. The bowling shoe kit according to claim 3, wherein a lateral section of said at least one slide pad is not secured to the slide area.

5. The bowling shoe kit according to claim 1, wherein said at least one slide pad is secured to said slide area by said fastener along the entire slide area.

6. The bowling shoe kit according to claim 1, wherein said first area comprises a first material, said third area comprises a third material, and said second area comprises a saw tooth design of said first material and said third material.

7. The bowling shoe kit according to claim 1, wherein each of said first, second and third areas extend laterally substantially across an entire width of said slide pad.

8. The bowling shoe kit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of heel pads, each having a different coefficient of friction; and

a heel fastener for removably securing a selected heel pad to a heel portion of said shoe sole;

wherein said plurality of heel pads are interchangeable to vary the coefficient of friction of the heel portion of the shoe sole.

9. The bowling shoe kit according to claim 8, wherein said heel fastener comprises hook and pile fastener system attached to said heel portion of said show sole and the selected heel pad.

10. The bowling shoe kit according to claim 8, wherein each of said plurality of heel pads comprises:

a first heel area extending from a front portion of the heel pad rearwardly to a rear portion of the first heel area and having a first heel coefficient of friction,

a second heel area extending from the rear portion of the first heel area rearwardly to a rear portion of the second heel area and having a second heel coefficient of friction, and

a third heel area extending from the rear portion of the second heel area rearwardly toward a rear portion of the heel pad and having a third coefficient of friction,

wherein the first heel coefficient of friction is different from the third heel coefficient of friction, and the second heel coefficient of friction presents a transition from the first heel coefficient of friction to the third heel coefficient of friction.

11. The bowling shoe kit according to claim 10, wherein said first heel area comprises a first heel material, said third heel area comprises a third heel material, and said second heel area comprises a saw tooth design of said first heel material and said third heel material.

12. The bowling shoe kit according to claim 1, wherein said slide area comprises an area from about one half to about three fourths of the distance between the toe end of the shoe and a heel end of the shoe.

13. The bowling shoe kit according to claim 1, wherein said slide area comprises an area from about three eighths to about five eighths of a distance between the toe end of the shoe and a heel end of the shoe.

14. The bowling shoe kit according to claim 1, wherein said at least one slide pad further comprises:

a fourth area extending from the rear portion of the third area rearwardly toward a rear portion of the fourth area and having a fourth coefficient of friction; and

a fifth area extending from the rear portion of the fourth area toward the rear portion of the slide area and having a fifth coefficient of friction;

wherein the fifth coefficient of friction is different from the third coefficient of friction, and the fourth coefficient of friction presents a transition from the third coefficient of friction to the fifth heel coefficient of friction

15. The bowling shoe kit according to claim 14, wherein said third area comprises a third material, said fifth area comprises a fifth material, and said fourth area comprises a saw tooth design of said third material and said fifth material.

16. The bowling shoe kit according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral margin of said at least one slide pad substantially matches the peripheral margin of the slide area of both the left shoe and the right shoe, such that said at least one slide pad may be mounted to the left shoe and to the right shoe.

17. A slide pad for a bowling shoe, said slide pad comprising:

a first area extending from a front portion of the slide area rearwardly to a rear portion of the first area and having a first coefficient of friction;

a second area extending from the rear portion of the first area rearwardly to a rear portion of the second area and having a second coefficient of friction;

a third area extending from the rear portion of the second area rearwardly toward a rear portion of the slide area and having a third coefficient of friction;

a fastener for removable attachment to a sole of the bowling shoe; and

wherein the first coefficient of friction is different from the third coefficient of friction, and the second coefficient of friction presents a transition from the first coefficient of friction to the third coefficient of friction; and

wherein, when attached to the sole, said slide pad substantially covers a slide area of the sole extending longitudinally from a toe end of the sole rearwardly towards an arch portion thereof, and extending laterally substantially across an entire width of the sole.

18. The slide pad according to claim 17, wherein said fastener comprises a first part if a two-part fastener for attaching to a second part of the two-part fastener which is disposed on the slide area of the shoe.

19. The slide pad according to claim 17, wherein said slide pad is secured to the slide area by said fastener along a portion of the slide area.

20. The slide pad according to claim 19, wherein a lateral section of said slide pad is not secured to the slide area.

21. The slide pad according to claim 17, wherein said slide pad is secured to said slide area by said fastener along the entire slide area.

22. The slide pad according to claim 17, wherein said first area comprises a first material, said third area comprises a third material, and said second area comprises a saw tooth design of said first material and said third material.

23. The slide pad according to claim 17, wherein, when attached to the slide area of the shoe, said slide pad covers an area from one half to about three fourths of the distance between the toe end of the shoe and a heel end of the shoe.

24. The slide pad according to claim 17, wherein, when attached to the slide area of the shoe, said slide pad covers an area from about three eighths to about five eighths of a distance between the toe end of the shoe and a heel end of the shoe.

25. The slide pad according to claim 17, wherein each of said first, second and third areas extend laterally substantially across an entire width of said slide pad.

26. The slide pad according to claim 17, wherein a peripheral margin of said slide pad substantially matches a peripheral margin of the slide area of both a left shoe and a right shoe, such that said slide pad may be mounted to the left shoe and to the right shoe.

27. The slide pad according to claim 17, wherein said slide pad has a first end and a second end, and wherein a peripheral margin of the first end substantially matches a peripheral margin of the second end, such that either the first end or the second end of said slide pad is attachable to the toe end of the shoe.

28. The slide pad according to claim 27, wherein one of the first end and the second end of said slide pad is cut to substantially correspond to a peripheral margin of the toe end of the shoe before attaching said slide pad to the shoe sole.