Abstract: A sole for footwear or a removable sole insert for footwear including a heel area, a forefoot area, and a midfoot area located between the heel and forefoot areas of the sole or the removable sole insert. The sole or removable sole insert include a concavely rounded upper and lower surfaces of the sole or removable sole inserts, a first flexibility groove located in a lateral side of the midfoot area of the sole or removable sole insert, and a second flexibility groove located in a medial side of the midfoot area of the sole or the removable sole insert. The concavely founded lower surface of the sole or the removable sole insert may extend to the sidemost extend of the lateral and medial sides of the sole or the removable sole insert except at a location of the second flexibility groove.

Abstract: Flexible cleats for flexible footwear (e.g., with natural motion sole structures) include a cleat structure that generally has the appearance of a cleat that has been separated into individual component parts by one or more flex grooves formed into the sole structure. Such structures provide additional flexibility at the areas of the cleats so as to avoid a “stiff” feeling in certain areas and/or during certain activities. The flexible cleats may be arranged around one or more intersections of flex grooves provided in a sole member, optionally in the form of an array of sole pods provided at least in a forefoot area of the sole member.

Abstract: A sole structure can include an outsole with flexure zones that allow relative movement between regions of the outsole bottom surface that are separated or defined by the flexure zones.

Abstract: A track and field shoe can include an upper, a sole structure, and a toe plate. The upper can include a medial side portion, a lateral side portion, and a toe box portion. The sole structure can be attached to the upper and can include a spike plate. The spike plate can have an anterior portion and a posterior portion. The toe plate can be attached to an anterior portion of the toe box portion of the upper and can include a hard and smooth outwardly facing surface. One or more portions of the toe plate can be exposed from an exterior surface of the upper.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an article of footwear including an upper configured to receive a foot and a sole component fixedly attached to a bottom portion of the upper. The sole component may include a baseplate having a bottom surface and at least a first ground engaging member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate and a first elongate support member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, abutting the first ground engaging member at a side portion, and extending horizontally from the side portion of the first ground engaging member. The first support member may extend horizontally away from the first ground engaging member in a direction toward a region of the sole component adjacent to a gap in the sole component.

Abstract: A bicycle cleat/cover assembly and a cover device. The bicycle cleat cover device is configured to be releasably secured to a bicycle cleat, wherein the bicycle cleat has an aperture sized and configured to receive a clipless pedal. The removable bicycle cleat cover device serves to inhibit debris from entering the central opening of the bicycle cleat when the bicycle cleat is disengaged from a pedal and the user is walking about on the ground.

Abstract: A shoe sole having a bottom surface with a plurality of stud clusters extending therefrom is provided, each stud cluster comprising at least two studs connected via one or more connection elements, wherein, to optimise the manner in which the stud clusters deal with forces applied to them during ground contact, each stud cluster is oriented in accordance with a predetermined direction of gross shear motion of the stud cluster and each stud cluster is dimensioned in accordance with the distribution of forces applied to the sole during ground contact.

Abstract: A baseball shoe includes an upper section and a sole section. The sole section includes a sole and a plurality of cleats. The sole includes a cleat pattern section and a no-cleat section, wherein the no-cleat section is positioned at a mid toe section of the sole. The cleats are attached to the sole within the cleat pattern section and are grouped into three groups: a heel group of cleats, an outer mid foot-to-toe group of cleats, and an inner mid foot-to-toe group of cleats. The inner mid foot-to-toe group of cleats and/or the outer mid foot-to-toe group of cleats are substantially aligned, such that, when a pitcher wears the baseball shoe, the inner mid foot-to-toe group of cleats or the outer mid foot-to-toe group of cleats engages a pitching rubber.

Abstract: An article of footwear having a sole that provides friction between the playing surface and the player's foot. In some embodiments, the article footwear includes a sole having a plurality of elongated studs in the heel region in addition to a back lateral stud having a rounded or circular shape located in the back lateral area of the heel.

Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper configured to receive a foot and a sole component fixedly attached to a bottom portion of the upper. The sole component may include a baseplate having a bottom surface. The sole component may also include an arrangement of ground engaging members extending downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate. The baseplate may further include a reinforcing shank arrangement including a plurality of reinforcing strips formed of a different material than portions of the baseplate adjacent the reinforcing strips, wherein at least one of the reinforcing strips forms at least a portion of a base platform from which at least one of the ground engaging members extends.

Abstract: An article of footwear with a suspended stud assembly attached to a sole is disclosed. The suspended stud assembly includes a base portion attached to the sole of a shoe. A set of suspension arms connect a plurality of studs to the base portion. This arrangement allows the studs to move independently of the sole and of each other to provide greater traction capabilities to the article of footwear.

Abstract: Articles of footwear may include self-adjusting studs that adjust to various types of conditions, environmental changes, and applied forces. The self-adjusting studs may have a first portion and a second portion of different levels of compressibilities and/or retractabilities that compress and extend based on the type of surface on which the wearer is walking or running. This footwear with self-adjusting studs may easily transition between surfaces of varying hardness without causing damage to the surface, but also providing the wearer with the necessary amount of traction on each type of surface. Wearers will enjoy the benefit of being able to move on various surfaces without the need to change their footwear multiple times to accommodate the wearer's varying traction needs on different surfaces.

Abstract: A baseball shoe includes an upper section coupled to a sole section. The sole section includes a sole, a plurality of cleats, and a pitching rubber engaging mechanism. The cleats are coupled to the sole and the pitching rubber engaging mechanism is associated with the sole. When a pitcher wears the baseball shoe, the pitching rubber engaging mechanism engages a pitching rubber to assist the pitcher with at least one of drive and alignment.

Abstract: A baseball shoe includes an upper section and a sole section. The sole section includes a sole and a plurality of cleats. The sole includes a cleat pattern section and a no-cleat section, wherein the no-cleat section is positioned at a mid toe section of the sole. The cleats are attached to the sole within the cleat pattern section and are grouped into three groups: a heel group of cleats, an outer mid foot-to-toe group of cleats, and an inner mid foot-to-toe group of cleats. The inner mid foot-to-toe group of cleats and/or the outer mid foot-to-toe group of cleats are substantially aligned, such that, when a pitcher wears the baseball shoe, the inner mid foot-to-toe group of cleats or the outer mid foot-to-toe group of cleats engages a pitching rubber.

Abstract: Articles of footwear may include self-adjusting studs that adjust to various types of conditions, environmental changes, and applied forces. The self-adjusting studs may have a first portion and a second portion of different levels of compressibilities and/or retractabilities that compress and extend based on the type of surface on which the wearer is walking or running. This footwear with self-adjusting studs may easily transition between surfaces of varying hardness without causing damage to the surface, but also providing the wearer with the necessary amount of traction on each type of surface. Wearers will enjoy the benefit of being able to move on various surfaces without the need to change their footwear multiple times to accommodate the wearer's varying traction needs on different surfaces.

Abstract: As described above, just as a person inserts his/her toes into a space under furniture and does sit-ups by using the force of the toes, a functional shoe of the present invention provides a portion into which an instep and a toe base portion are inserted on the functional shoe to use the force of the toe base portion which may exert the greatest force from among portions of a foot, thereby adding momentum. Accordingly, a wearer may further use the force of the instep and the toe base portion to support weight. That is, when a batter hits a baseball in a baseball game, an instep of the batter including a toe base portion may be inserted into a weight support unit to support the weight of the batter, thereby adding forces of the instep and the toe base portion the weight of the batter.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a heel section, a mid-foot section, and a toe section. The heel section, the mid-foot section, and the toe section collectively have a geometric shape having a first slope of a polarity along an inner edge of the apparatus from the toe section to the heel section and a second slope of the polarity along the inner edge of the apparatus to an outer edge of the apparatus at the toe section.

Abstract: An insole for athletic shoe including a body having an outermost perimeter configured to fit within an athletic shoe, the outermost perimeter defining a top surface having forefoot, midfoot, and rearfoot portions. The insole having a first raised portion on the top surface which is positioned around the outermost perimeter at the rearfoot portion, and at least one structural element provided to improve support of the athletic shoe.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic disk drive capable of allowing higher data transfer rates and higher recording densities. According to one embodiment, an upper magnetic core and lower magnetic core comprise a multi-layered magnetic film formed by alternately stacking a face-centered cubic (fcc) crystalline magnetic thin layer and a body-centered cubic (bcc) crystalline magnetic thin layer by plating. The plating bath is such that the temperature is about 30±1° C., pH is about 2.0?1.0 to 2.0+0.5, metal ion concentrations are about 5 to 25 (g/l) for Ni2+ and 5 to 15 (g/l) for Fe2+, saccharin sodium concentration is about 1.5±1.0 (g/l), sodium chloride concentration is about 25±5 (g/l), and boric acid concentration is about 25±5 (g/l). Since each layer's crystal structure is different from that of its adjacent lower layer, epitaxial growth is broken within each layer.

Abstract: A universal cleat suitable for use for multiple different baseball shoes comprises a generally triangular base with a substantially flat bottom for fitting into a plurality of different shaped recesses in different shoes. There is a grip projecting from the base in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base. The base has an oblong shaped mounting hole for receiving a retaining screw.

Abstract: An athletic shoe which improves traction and rotational movement is provided. A first set of protrusions or cleats at the region of the shoe that corresponds to the ball of the foot is arranged in such a manner that, when the first set of cleats are used in conjunction with at least one cleat of another set of cleats located toward the boundary of the region of the shoe that corresponds to the ball of the shoe, the natural rotational movement of the user is accentuated.

Abstract: An outsole (1) has a body (2), a spike (3), a first projected portion (4), and a second projected portion (5). The spike (3) has a disk-like portion (7) and a pin (8). The disk-like portion (7) and the pin (8) are composed of a rubber-molded material. The rubber-molded material contains 30 wt % or more of polybutadiene or acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer as a rubber component thereof. The JIS-C hardness of the rubber-molded material is set to the range from 35 to 95 both inclusive. The cutting-time elongation of the rubber-molded material is set to 280% or more. The difference (h1−h2) between a projected height (h1) of the spike (3) and a projected height (h2) of the first projected portion (4) as well as the second projected portion (5) is set to the range from 0 mm to 15 mm both inclusive.

Abstract: A rotatable traction pad for a shoe can be mounted in a circular cavity in the shoe sole bottom surface, with the cavity being relatively shallow in relation to the shoe sole thickness. The pad mounting mechanism can include an annular bearing housing adhesively bonded to the circular side surface of the cavity, and an anti-friction bearing carried within the annular housing. The traction pad includes a rigid central post that extends upwardly through the bearing.

Abstract: An article of footwear is described with a sole that has a forefoot plate, a heel plate, at least one alloy cleat, and at least one molded cleat. The alloy cleat may be made of a non-ferrous metal alloy or alternatively an alloy based on ceramics, titanium, and/or magnesium. According to the invention, the alloy cleat protrudes from the forefoot plate and the molded cleat protrudes from the heel plate. The sole can additionally have a stability element that controls the movement of the forefoot plate with respect to the heel plate. An alternative aspect of the invention is an alloy cleat having a body with a generally arcuate cross-section and an integrally formed stiffening rib.

Abstract: A universal cleat suitable for use for multiple different baseball shoes comprises a generally triangular base with a substantially flat bottom for fitting into a plurality of different shaped recesses in different shoes. There is a grip projecting from the base in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base. The base has an oblong shaped mounting hole for receiving a retaining screw.

Abstract: A sole of a baseball spiked shoe has a toe portion projection, a first metatarsal head projection, a stepping portion projection, and a fifth metatarsal head projection provided at a fore foot portion at the bottom plane of the shoe sole, and a heel medial projection, a heel anterior projection, a heel posterior projection, and a heel lateral projection provided at the heel portion. Each projection is provided at an appropriate angle with respect to the longitudinal line of the foot.

Abstract: A sole of a baseball spiked shoe has a toe portion projection, a first metatarsal head projection, a stepping portion projection, and a fifth metatarsal head projection provided at a fore foot portion at the bottom plane of the shoe sole, and a heel medial projection, a heel anterior projection, a heel posterior projection, and a heel lateral projection provided at the heel portion. Each projection is provided at an appropriate angle with respect to the longitudinal line of the foot.

Abstract: A shock absorbing liner to be attached to the interior of a baseball shoe to help protect the toes and upper portion of wearer's foot from injury that can occur during baseball batting. The shock absorbing liner includes a plurality of rigid protective shell members constructed of a hard plastic material that possess sufficient shock absorbing capability to resist a wide range of dynamic impact forces that may be applied to the baseball shoe by a foul tipped ball striking the shoe. The rigid protective shell members are shaped and arranged to cover and protect essentially the entire upper foot region including the toes. The rigid protective shell members are joined by bendable elements so as to allow the shock absorbing liner freedom to flex with the baseball shoe while affording foot protection.

Abstract: A cleated athletic shoe (18) incorporating a cleat frame (22) having cleat supports (52) which extend down through openings formed in a sole (20). The cleat supports (52) carry cleats (26-36) having portions which extend below the bottom surface of the sole (20) for providing traction on a player surface. The cleated supports (52) are coupled to the cleat frame (22) in a manner which transfers upward forces from the cleat (26-36) into the cleat frame (22) when the shoe is weighted.

Abstract: A sole for a sport shoe to provide increased traction and stability comprises a main sole member having a heel portion including a heel curve and a forward position underlining the ball of the foot including a toe curve. The main sole member has a center point defined by the intersection of an optical center line and a transverse line. The optical center line and the transverse line defines four quadrants, namely, a forward lateral, a forward medial, a rearward lateral, and a rearward medial. A forward medial cleat is located generally on a first radial line 30 degrees to the medial side of the optical center line about the center point and spaced generally 44% of the length of the transverse line from the center point. A rearward lateral cleat is located on a second radial line generally 130 degrees to the lateral side of the optical center line about the center point and spaced generally 59% of the length of the transverse line from the center point.

Abstract: A sole for an athletic shoe includes a sole plate and a plurality of openings that extend through the sole plate. A receptacle insert is embedded within the sole plate at each opening location and an inner sidewall of each receptacle insert defines a receiving opening for a cleat element. Each receiving opening has a plurality of engagement notches disposed around the periphery thereof. A plurality of detachable cleat elements including a base member and a traction member are also provided. The base member of the cleat element has a plurality of engagement projections extending outward from its periphery. For attachment, each cleat element is positioned in one of the receiving openings such that the engagement projections are aligned with the engagement notches. Rotation of the cleat element then detachably secures the cleat element within the receptacle insert of the sole plate.

Abstract: A shoe is equipped with a circular rotatable traction pad having cleats projecting downwardly a slight distance below the sole bottom surface. The pad is rotatably attached to the shoe sole so that when the wearer of the shoe turns his or her ankle to execute a pivot turn, the shoe turns with the person's ankle while the traction pad remains anchored to the ground surface. The rotatable traction pad facilitates pivot turning maneuvers, and minimizes ankle injuries associated with such maneuvers.

Abstract: A cleat for an athletic shoe includes a base plate, tapered and slightly curved engagement member for penetrating the turf and a support member for coupling the engagement member to the plate. At least one notch is defined by the base plate, the support member and the engagement member for receiving bonding material to attach the cleat to a shoe sole. The comparative widths of the base plate and engagement member are such that the cleats may be arranged in a closely spaced or abutting relationships.An athletic shoe sole includes an array of such cleats disposed along a substantially circular path to define an annular cleat array. The blade of each cleat is generally in registry with the path and the cleats thereby define an annular, substantially circular edge for facilitating pivoting movement of the sole.

Abstract: A ceramics spike pin is provided with a pin body having a horizontal cross section of a substantially circular shape, which pin body is provided with a rounded free end portion having a predetermined radius of curvature and a connecting base portion having a predetermined radius of curvature, and a horizontally expanded base connected to the connecting base portion, wherein a diameter (d) of the connecting base portion in horizontal cross section, the radius of curvature(r) of the connecting base portion, and a maximum diagonal length (D) of the horizontally expanded base satisfy the relationship of 0<r<d<D and r.sup.2 .times.d/D.gtoreq.1.36. Accordingly, the stress concentration can be greatly relieved, and the impact resistance can be improved to thereby the durability.

Abstract: A general purpose baseball shoe sole with significant advantages for a baseball pitcher, whether he be in Little League or the professional ranks. The sole can be molded from a resilient material with tread members creating a longitudinal vallecular area or cleatless with an unobstructed channel in the sole. The longitudinal channel or vallecular area promote the unique anchoring characteristic of the sole. A means for the pitcher to obtain a stable foothold atop the pitching rubber, enabling him to thrust against the top front of the pitching rubber with his foot while pitching towards home plate. When utilizing the disclosure properly the pitcher can be relieved of endeavoring to furrow a hole in the dirt to the front of the pitching rubber in which to set his foot, and then bracing his foot against the pitching rubber. Instead, the top front edge of the pitching rubber fits into the groove in the sole of the shoe.

Abstract: A two piece foul tip protector to be worn on the shoe of a baseball player to protect the foot includes a lower toe piece secured to the toe of the shoe, an upper covering piece located above the lower piece and extending rearwardly toward the ankle of the player, and cooperating attachment means protruding from the top surface of the lower piece and the bottom surface of the upper piece to releasably hold the upper piece in a raised position above the bridge of the shoe with a clearance distance therebetween. The clearance distance provides shock absorption upon impact from a baseball, while at the same time permitting freedom of movement for the footr. The upper piece may be detached with the batter has safely reached a base, thereby to facilitate base running.

Abstract: An improved flexible sole for athletic shoes for field sports of the type having an annular cleat providing improved pivotability and excellent traction. The annular cleat has opposed breaks along its distal edge in opposed main lateral portions which are centered on the juncture of the ball-of-the foot and toe portions of the sole. In one embodiment, a wide single break on each side of the shoe extends to the main sole surface and forms a flexing region across the sole. In another, a pair of breaks on each side form opposed annular cleat side portions, with which a central cleat may be aligned.

Abstract: An improved sole for soccer shoes of the type having an annular cleat providing improved pivotability and excellent traction. The annular cleat extends along a substantially circular path which has medial and lateral opposed main side portions, the inside main side portion being spaced from the inside sole edge by a distance substantially greater than the lateral main side portion is from the sole outside edge. Preferred embodiments have opposed breaks along the opposed main side portions.

Abstract: A shoe sole for enhanced turning traction and release characteristics with an instep and an out step and further having a toe section and a heel section, the toe section bearing from two to a plurality of downwardly asymmetrically extending vacuum limiting traction arrays. Toe traction arrays are of generally circular basis, generally concentric with a point in a vertical axis with the balance point of the shoe sole and with the asymmetric extension from a plane comprising the shoe sole affording greater angle to the instep than the out step. This differential of angle allows improved turning characteristics with less turning strain for the wearer. In a further aspect of the invention, the heel section of the shoe bears vacuum limiting traction arrays to enhance the traction characteristics of the shoe when the shoe sole is applied generally flush with the traction surface.

Abstract: A baseball shoe comprising spikes (S) with ceramic teeth (t) embedded in resin flanges (f), a resin sole body (A) having the spikes (S) embedded therein, and an upper shoe portion. Each tooth (t) includes a tooth body (3) and a seat plate portion (5) connected thereto. Each flange (f) includes an embedment portion (6) having the seat plate portion (5) of the tooth (t) embedded therein and a thinner peripheral portion (8) positioned around the embedment portion (6). The material of the sole body (A) is softer than that of the flanges (f) of the spikes (S).

Abstract: An athletic shoe for field sports having a substantially continuous annular cleat formed on the sole in forward position and extending along a substantially circular path encompassing a major area which includes most of the ball-of-the-foot and toe portions of the sole. The cleat has a passageway across a portion of the width of the sole just forward of the arch portion. Such passageway is preferably a shortening of a minor portion of the annular cleat but may be elimination thereof. Some preferred embodiments relate to a flat cleat edge, while others relate to certain passageway or cleat cross-sectional characteristics.

Abstract: A baseball shoe is disclosed, which is comprised of an upper and a cleated sole attached to the upper. The cleated sole is formed of a single integral piece of plastic which includes a base extending through the toe, ball, arch and heel sections of the shoe. A pluality of first and second cleats extend from the base. The first cleats are arranged in a front group about the periphery of the toe and ball sections, and in a back group in a generally circular arrangement in the heel section. The first cleats have a generally flat rectangular-shaped ground engaging surface, an outer surface, a concave inner surface, a pair of side surfaces and a rib extending from the concave inner surface. The second cleats are located generally in the forefoot area of the shoe and have a generally cylindrical configuration will a round ground engaging surface.

Abstract: An athletic shoe for field sports having a circular cleat formed on the sole in forward position substantially encompassing the ball-of-the-foot and toe portions of the sole, extending substantially across the width of the sole, and enclosing a surface coincident with the main surface of the sole. The shoe provides improved pivotability while also providing good traction, and can reduce the frequency of certain common leg injuries.

Abstract: A cleated athletic shoe for improved pivotability and traction on artificial turf. The sole of the shoe has a series of at least three, and preferably more, concentric annular projections, including a first annular projection encompassing nearly the entire ball-of-the-foot and toe portions of the sole and extending across the width of the sole and at least two additional annular projections spaced at progressively shorter radial locations. The enclosed sole areas are coincident with the main sole surface. Preferred embodiments include at least one and preferably more truncated-circle projections each of which are concentric with the first projection but at greater radial locations.

Abstract: A baseball or softball shoe with its sole having a plurality of individual spikes which limitedly penetrate into the ground to the optimum depth to enhance the player's ability to run fast. A plurality of projections are formed with the sole adjacent to its periphery in forefoot and heel regions of the sole. The forefoot region is also provided with a plurality of second projections integral with the sole in the inside of the spikes.

Abstract: An athletic shoe for field sports having a circular cleat formed on the sole in forward position substantially encompassing the ball-of-the-foot and toe portions of the sole, extending substantially across the width of the sole, and enclosing a surface coincident with the main surface of the sole. The shoe provides improved pivotability while also providing good traction, and can reduce the frequency of certain common leg injuries.

Abstract: Footwear including an upper and a sole with a plurality of cleats extending from the sole arranged in groupings of cleats adapting the footwear to field sports. A control device extends upwardly of the sole around the heel, a pair of spines extend along the sole between cleats of a grouping of cleats within the region of the ball and heel of the foot, and a flex area is provided in the sole in the general off-center alignment of the heads of the metatarsal bones.

Abstract: Cleated shoes for baseball and softball players wherein a minimum of two blade like cleats are provided. One of the cleats is placed under the first metatarsal head of the wearer. The cleats are oriented relative to the center line of the foot determined by a positioning line for each cleat that is perpendicular to the cleats and angled about 45.degree. relative to a forward projection of the center line, one positioning line being clockwise and the other counterclockwise to the center line.

Abstract: A molded outsole for an athletic shoe including molded, non-metallic studs or cleats includes a plurality of first substantially identical studs and a plurality of second substantially identical studs. The first studs have a shape characterized by three partially-overlapping frustoconical shapes, blended together to present an outline which does not retain dirt, in a triangular pattern, and produce a stud shorter than a second stud. The second studs have a shape characterized by a large frustoconical portion bounded by two partially-overlapping smaller frustoconical portions, of equal height, arranged to define a generally arcuate shape presenting a concave face and a convex face, the large frustoconical portion and the two small frustoconical portions being appropriately filleted to produce a smooth surface which does not retain dirt. These second studs may be oriented to support traction primarily in a predetermined direction, and to allow pivoting.

Abstract: A molded outsole for an athletic shoe including molded, non-metallic studs or cleats includes a plurality of first substantially identical studs and a plurality of second substantially identical studs. The first studs have a shape characterized by three partially-overlapping frustoconical shapes, blended together to present an outline which does not retain dirt, in a triangular pattern, and produce a stud shorter than a second stud. The second studs have a shape characterized by a large frustoconical portion bounded by two partially-overlapping smaller frustoconical portions, of equal height, arranged to define a generally arcuate shape presenting a concave face and a convex face, the large frustoconical portion and the two small frustoconical portions being appropriately filleted to produce a smooth surface which does not retain dirt. These second studs may be oriented to support traction primarily in a predetermined direction, and to allow pivoting.