Removable Shoe Spike System
The present system, method and apparatus are adapted for the quick and easy exchange of spikes on athletic shoes. More specifically, the system, apparatus and methods comprise a spike having an opening, an aglet adapted for coupling to the shoe, for example by way of a shoelace, and a coupling head affixed to the aglet which is adapted to couple with the opening on the spike so as to allow a user to quickly and easily replace, remove or install spikes in the athletic shoe. The disclosure thus allows the user to have the tool attached to their shoe at all times so as to avoid carrying additional equipment while wearing the shoe.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/676,077, filed Jul. 26, 2012 and entitled “Shoe Spike,” and PCT Application No. US13/52313, filed on Jul. 26, 2013 and entitled “Removable Shoe Spike System,” which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe embodiments disclosed herein relate to various systems, apparatus and methods for changing the spikes on shoes. Certain embodiments relate to spikes, aglets and other components of certain shoes. Further embodiments relate to methods of using the above components.
BACKGROUNDMany forms of athletic shoes benefit from the use of spikes or cleats on the intended surface, as a way to increase the user's traction, stability, grip, and the like. Such surfaces can include grass, rubberized track, ice, artificial turf, sand, dirt, mud, and a variety of other athletic and other playing fields or terrains. For example, track and field athletes, runners of all distances, tri-athletes, golfers, and a variety of team sport athletes engaged in football, soccer, baseball, rugby, and the like all may use cleats or spikes as a way to increase their performance in both practice and competition.
In certain applications, the need to change or replace the spikes is common. The spikes or cleats may wear out, as is common with runners, or a need to be changed for other reasons, such as a change in weather or to get a different benefit or “feel,” as is common for football and soccer players.
There is a need in the art for improved apparatus, systems and methods for changing spikes and cleats on shoes.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONDiscussed herein are various embodiments relating to a novel shoe spike system, comprising apparatus and methods of use.
While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the system will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the system. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
Various exemplary embodiments of the shoe spike system are disclosed herein. As seen generally throughout the figures, the present system 10 generally relates to a novel spike 12 that can be attached to and removed from certain shoes 14. Also disclosed herein are a variety of methods and apparatus used for attaching and removing the disclosed spikes, including a specialized aglet 16, as is best shown in
Turning to the figures in detail,
Continuing with
In these embodiments, the second end 12B of the spike 12 has a connection that can be coupled to the shoe (as shown fitted in
As depicted in
As can be seen in
In certain exemplary embodiments, a spike 12 that has a threaded connector (for example, as depicted in
In other exemplary embodiments, certain materials can be applied to the threaded connector 12B on a second end of a spike that assist in enabling the spike to be screwed into the shoe. The materials may then contribute to resistance against being unscrewed. These materials include grease, oil, and other kinds of lubricants that would make it easier to screw the spike into the shoe, and then after the spike is in the shoe would help the spike resist being unscrewed.
The opening 20 that is otherwise defined in the side of the solid portion of the spike in the embodiment described above allows a person to insert an object into the spike, and then exert pressure on the object in such a way as to create a force in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction around the axis between the first and second ends of the spike 12. This facilitates attachment or removal of the spike by way of the coupling head 18. In certain embodiments, the object inserted into the opening 20 in the spike can also be anything with a small enough cross-section to fit into the opening 20—it need not necessarily be the coupling head 18.
As shown in
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7-14, in certain exemplary embodiments, the aglet 18 comprises a coupling head 18 that is generally cylindrical. As will be discussed herein, many other shapes are possible. By way of example, the aglet 16 may be adapted so as to have a first end 24 having an opening region adapted for the accommodation of a shoelace 22 or other connection means and a second end 26 adapted for securing the coupling head 18. While the aglet 16 and coupling head 18 shown in
As shown generally in
In certain exemplary embodiments, and as depicted in
As depicted in
As shown in
As shown for a variety of views in
Certain shoes do not have laces or algets, and are instead retained on a user's foot with the help of a zipper, snaps, or other mechanisms. In these cases, the system can be adapted for attachment to the zipper or snap by similar means as those disclosed above, such that, for example, the aglet can be fitted to couple to the zipper or snap.
In other exemplary embodiments, a tool for removing a traditional spike could be attached to the aglet 16 in addition to the coupling head 18, or to another part of the shoe. This tool may be configured to fit around any traditional type of spike, including circular spikes, hexagonal spikes, or substantially circular spikes with two flattened sides. These tools are well-known in the art.
Another embodiment is a kit comprising other embodiments described above, comprising one or more of: spikes with openings in the side, aglets configured to be inserted into the openings in the spikes, aglets connected to tools used to attach or remove spikes, or objects used to insert into the openings in spikes and attach or remove them.
In addition to other materials mentioned herein, any or all elements of the system and/or device or apparatuses described herein can be made from, for example, a single or multiple stainless steel, spring steel, titanium, carbon fiber, hard plastic, aluminum, metal, alloy, PVC, polymer, stainless steel alloy, nickel titanium alloy, nickel cobalt alloy, molybdenum alloy, tungsten-rhenium alloy, a polymer, polyethylene teraphathalate (PET), polyester, poly ester amide (PEA), polypropylene, aromatic polyester, a liquid crystal polymer, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), expanded PTFE (ePTFE), polyether ketone (PEK), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), poly ether ketone ketone (PEKK), poly aryl ether ketone ketone), nylon, polyether-block co-polyamide polymer, aliphatic polyether polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane, thermoplastic, fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), absorbable or resorbable polymers such as polyglycolic acid (PGA), poly-L-glycolic acid (PLGA), polylactic acid (PLA), poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polyethyl acrylate (PEA), polydioxanone (PDS), and pseudo-polyamino tyrosine-based acids, silicone, zinc, zinc oxide, nickel-titanium alloy, tantalum and gold.
While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
Although the system has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A system for fitting to a shoe with a spike, comprising:
- a. a shoe spike further comprising an opening; and
- b. an aglet further comprising a coupling head, wherein the coupling head is adapted to couple to the spike opening so as to replace the spike.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the shoe spike is an athletic shoe spike.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the opening transects the diameter of the shoe spike.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the shoe spike comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of rubber, plastic, and metal.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the aglet comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, alloy, plastic, hard plastic, shrink wrap plastic, polymer, polyolefin, PVC, biaxially oriented polypropylene, fiber, yarn, and titanium.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupling head comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, spring steel, titanium, carbon fiber, hard plastic, aluminum, metal, alloy, PVC, polymer, stainless steel alloy, nickel titanium alloy, nickel cobalt alloy, molybdenum alloy, tungsten-rhenium alloy, a polymer, polyethylene teraphathalate (PET), polyester, poly ester amide (PEA), polypropylene, aromatic polyester, a liquid crystal polymer, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), expanded PTFE (ePTFE), polyether ketone (PEK), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), poly ether ketone ketone (PEKK), poly aryl ether ketone ketone), nylon, polyether-block co-polyamide polymer, aliphatic polyether polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane, thermoplastic, fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), absorbable or resorbable polymers such as polyglycolic acid (PGA), poly-L-glycolic acid (PLGA), polylactic acid (PLA), poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polyethyl acrylate (PEA), polydioxanone (PDS), and pseudo-polyamino tyrosine-based acids, silicone, zinc, zinc oxide, nickel-titanium alloy, tantalum and gold.
7. A method for changing the spikes on a shoe, comprising:
- a. providing a spike further comprising an opening;
- b. providing a device adapted to attach to the shoe, said device further comprising a coupling region adapted to couple to the spike for tightening or loosening, wherein the device is connected to the shoe.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising an aglet, wherein the device is connected to the shoe by way of the aglet.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the aglet is connected to the shoe by way of a shoelace.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the aglet comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, alloy, plastic, hard plastic, shrink wrap plastic, polymer, polyolefin, PVC, biaxially oriented polypropylene, fiber, yarn, and titanium.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein the coupling region comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of wherein the head coupling comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, spring steel, titanium, carbon fiber, hard plastic, aluminum, metal, alloy, PVC, polymer, stainless steel alloy, nickel titanium alloy, nickel cobalt alloy, molybdenum alloy, tungsten-rhenium alloy, a polymer, polyethylene teraphathalate (PET), polyester, poly ester amide (PEA), polypropylene, aromatic polyester, a liquid crystal polymer, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), expanded PTFE (ePTFE), polyether ketone (PEK), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), poly ether ketone ketone (PEKK), poly aryl ether ketone ketone), nylon, polyether-block co-polyamide polymer, aliphatic polyether polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane, thermoplastic, fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), absorbable or resorbable polymers such as polyglycolic acid (PGA), poly-L-glycolic acid (PLGA), polylactic acid (PLA), poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polyethyl acrylate (PEA), polydioxanone (PDS), and pseudo-polyamino tyrosine-based acids, silicone, zinc, zinc oxide, nickel-titanium alloy, tantalum and gold.
12. The method of claim 7, wherein the spike comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of rubber, plastic, and metal.
13. A shoe spike replacement device, comprising:
- a. a spike, further comprising a defined opening;
- b. a coupling head, wherein the aglet is coupling head is adapted to couple to the opening and is attached to the shoe so as to allow for adjustment of the spike.
14. The device of claim 13, further comprising an aglet adapted to affix the coupling head to the shoe.
15. The device of claim 14, further comprising a shoelace, wherein the aglet affixes the coupling head to the shoelace.
16. The device of claim 14, wherein the opening transects the diameter of the shoe spike.
17. The device of claim 14, wherein the aglet comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, alloy, plastic, hard plastic, shrink wrap plastic, polymer, polyolefin, PVC, biaxially oriented polypropylene, fiber, yarn, and titanium.
18. The device of claim 13, wherein the coupling head comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, spring steel, titanium, carbon fiber, hard plastic, aluminum, metal, alloy, PVC, polymer, stainless steel alloy, nickel titanium alloy, nickel cobalt alloy, molybdenum alloy, tungsten-rhenium alloy, a polymer, polyethylene teraphathalate (PET), polyester, poly ester amide (PEA), polypropylene, aromatic polyester, a liquid crystal polymer, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), expanded PTFE (ePTFE), polyether ketone (PEK), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), poly ether ketone ketone (PEKK), poly aryl ether ketone ketone), nylon, polyether-block co-polyamide polymer, aliphatic polyether polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane, thermoplastic, fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), absorbable or resorbable polymers such as polyglycolic acid (PGA), poly-L-glycolic acid (PLGA), polylactic acid (PLA), poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polyethyl acrylate (PEA), polydioxanone (PDS), and pseudo-polyamino tyrosine-based acids, silicone, zinc, zinc oxide, nickel-titanium alloy, tantalum and gold.
19. The device of claim 13, wherein the shoe spike comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of rubber, plastic, and metal.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 26, 2013
Publication Date: Jul 9, 2015
Inventor: Alex Adams (Hickman, NE)
Application Number: 14/416,197