Cross-Reference to Related Application(s)

[001 ] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No.

61/676,077, filed July 26, 2012 and entitled "Shoe Spike," which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

[002] The 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.

Background

[003] Many 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.

[004] 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.

[005] There is a need in the art for improved apparatus, systems and methods for changing spikes and cleats on shoes.

Brief Summary of the Invention

[006] Discussed herein are various embodiments relating to a novel shoe spike system, comprising apparatus and methods of use. [007] 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.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spike, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[009] FIG. 2 is a side view of a spike, according to a second exemplary embodiment.

[010] FIG. 3 is yet another a side view of a spike, according to a second exemplary embodiment.

[011 ] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the system in use on a shoe, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an aglet and coupling head, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[013] FIG. 6 is a side view of a spike being removed by hand.

[014] FIG. 7 is a side view of the system, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[015] FIG. 8 is a side view of an aglet featuring an angled coupling head, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[016] FIG. 9 shows the embodiment of FIG. 8 in use, according to the system and method.

[017] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an aglet featuring another embodiment of an angled coupling head.

[018] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an aglet featuring the angled coupling head of the embodiment of FIG. 11.

[019] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an aglet featuring the angled coupling head of the embodiment of FIG. 11.

[020] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an aglet featuring the angled coupling head of the embodiment of FIG. 11. [021 ] FIG. 14 is a front view of an aglet featuring the angled coupling head of the embodiment of FIG. 11.

Detailed Description

[022] 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 FIGS. 5, 8 and 10-14. In certain embodiments, the aglet 16 further comprises a coupling head 18 which is adapted to couple to the spike by way of an opening 20 in the spike. For purposes of this application, "spike" is meant to include any kind of spike or cleat that attaches to the bottom of a shoe, including without limitation a shoe used in athletics, and aglet is meant to include any kind of attachment to the end of a shoelace, drawstring, or the like.

[023] Turning to the figures in detail, FIGS. 1-14 depict various embodiments of the shoe spike system. As seen in the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, certain exemplary embodiments of the system 10 comprise at least one spike 12 set in a shoe 14 and at least one aglet 16 further comprising a coupling head 18 adapted so as to allow a user 1 to loosen and tighten the spikes 12 easily and without carrying any extra equipment. As best depicted in FIGS. 1-2, certain exemplary embodiments comprise spikes 12 having an opening or other female mating region 20 formed to accept a corresponding male region mounted on the aglet. Other coupling means are possible, as would be apparent to one of skill in the art.

[024] Continuing with FIGS. 1-2, in certain exemplary embodiments, the system comprises a spike 12 having a first end 12A and a second end 12B connected by a solid portion 12C. In these embodiments, the first end 12A of the spike 12 can be tapered to a point, so as to aid the spike 12 in facilitating traction between the shoe and the surface the shoe is used on. In such embodiments, the spike 12 can be constructed from any kind of material typically used for a spike, including without limitation metal, plastic, rubber, other synthetic polymers or combinations thereof.

[025] 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 FIG. 4). This connection can be a threaded male connector (as best shown in FIG. 1). On the second end 12B of the spike that is sized to mate with a female connection on the shoe (as is shown in Fig. 6), however other connections are possible. These other connections include a magnetic connection between the spike and shoe, a peg and slot type connection, a twist and lock connection, or any other equivalent apparatus or method adapted for connecting a spike to a shoe, as would be readily apparent to one of skill in the art. Certain alternative embodiments can also utilize a male threaded connector on the shoe connecting to a female threaded connector on the spike 12.

[026] As depicted in FIGS. 1-2, in certain exemplary embodiments, the spike also has an opening 20 defined into the solid portion of the spike 12. This opening 20 is adapted to mate with the coupling head 18 of the aglet 16. This opening 20 could be defined either partially or completely through the solid portion. One advantage of an opening completely through is that it can be accessed by the aglet from either direction, but this is in no way necessary to the function of the system. In certain exemplary embodiments, the opening 20 may be defined substantially perpendicular to an axis connecting the first and second ends of the spike, though, again, this is not required for the system to function.

[027] As can be seen in FIGS. 1-3, this axis between the first 12A and second 12B spike ends is generally a substantially straight line. The cross-section of the spike can be any shape, including without limitation circular, triangular, rectangular, hexagonal, or circular with two flattened sides defined by parallel chords through the circle.

[028] In certain exemplary embodiments, a spike 12 that has a threaded connector (for example, as depicted in FIGS. 1 & 6) as its connection to the shoe can have certain materials applied to the threads on the second end 12B to assist the second end in forming a tight mate with the female threaded connection on the shoe. In certain embodiments, these materials can include nylon, Teflon, tape, plastic or other equivalent materials that accomplish the goal of facilitating a tight male-female connection. This material could be applied anywhere threads exist for connecting the spike to a shoe, including internally or externally on either the spike or the shoe.

[029] 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.

[030] 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.

[031 ] As shown in FIGS. 4-7, certain exemplary embodiments of the system also comprise an aglet 16, further comprising a coupling head 18 that is adapted so as to be inserted into the opening 20 in the side of a spike 12. In certain embodiments, this is a male-female coupling, as described above, though other methods of coupling would be apparent to one of skill in the art. In certain exemplary embodiments, the aglet 16 is coupled to the end or ends of a shoelace 22 opposite the coupling head 18, so as to allow it to be kept with the user without adding substantially any weight or further equipment to the user.

[032] As shown in FIG. 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 FIG. 5 appear to be generally rigid forged unit, such as a steel, aluminum, alloy, or hard plastic, in certain embodiments the aglet 16 can be comprised of more malleable material such as shrink wrap plastic, polymer, polyolefin, PVC, biaxially oriented polypropylene, fiber, yarn, titanium or any other suitable material which would facilitate the placement and fastening of the coupling head 18 and shoelace 22 inside opposite ends of the aglet 16. In certain embodiments, the aglet 16 and coupling head can be formed from the same material, while in alternate embodiments the aglet 16 and coupling head are comprised of different materials. In certain embodiments, the coupling head 18 can be made of metal such as stainless steel, spring steel, titanium, carbon fiber, any number of allows or combinations thereof, plastic, ceramic, rubber, or any other material capable of substantially withstanding a rotational force applied to the aglet 16 in order to rotate the spike 12 by way of the coupling head 18.

[033] FIG. 6 generally depicts the manual removal of a spike 12, as is done in the prior art and as may be done in the current system following the initial loosening of the spike 12. FIG. 7 depicts the insertion of the coupling head 18 into the opening 20 of the spike 12, so as to ease rotation (shown as A)and increase leverage around the axis of the spike 12.

[034] As shown generally in FIGS. 8-14, in certain exemplary embodiments, the coupling head 18 can be specifically adapted to fit into the opening 20. This can be achieved by a variety of structures and methods. In certain embodiments, the diameter of the aglet 16 and coupling head 18 may differ, though this is by no means necessary. Further, a variety of other shapes may be employed, such as a cubic, hexagonal, or other polygonal shape, as would be best adapted for the particular opening 20 in the spike.

[035] In certain exemplary embodiments, and as depicted in FIGS. 8-14, the coupling head 18 can take a non-linear form to assist in removing the spikes 12 from a shoe 14. For example, the coupling head 18 may comprise a steel extruded rod, having at least one angle in it, and be capable of removing a spike with an opening 20 in its side, as described above.

[036] As depicted in FIGS. 8-9, in certain embodiments, the aglet comprises an L- shaped for removing a spike having an opening. In these embodiments, coupling head 18 can be specifically adapted to avoid difficulties in accessing the opening 20, as would be apparent to one of skill in the art. As shown in FIGS. 8-9, and for simplicity, the coupling head 18 having at least a first angle 30 can be inserted into the opening 20 so as to prevent the aglet and shoelace from being substantially in line with the opening and also allow the user to loosen or tighten the spike 12, as shown by B.

[037] As shown in FIG. 10-14, in certain exemplary embodiments the coupling head 18 can comprise more than one angle 30, 32 so as to facilitate the removal of the spike and avoid any problems with tangling or catching that may occur with certain combinations of shoes, shoelaces, and coupling heads having angles of approximately 90 degrees. FIG. 10 also depicts an aglet 16 comprising shrink-wrap plastic and a shoelace 22.

[038] As shown for a variety of views in FIGS. 11-14, in certain exemplary embodiments the coupling head 18 can comprise a plurality of angles 30, 32 and a plurality of segments 40, 42, 44, which can be set in a variety of X- Y- and Z-planes or axis from one another. By way of example, and as shown in FIGS. 11-14, the plurality of coupling head 18 segments 40, 42, 44 are set in differing axis from one another, such that a first angle 30 of less than 90 degrees is set between the first 40 and second 42 segments, and a second angle 32 of less than 90 degrees is set between the second 42 and third 44 segments, such that the plurality of angles 30, 32 are set in distinct axis from one another and the plurality of segments 40, 42, 44 are set in distinct planes from one another. As would be apparent to one of skill in the art, additional angles and segments are possible, and the present system encompasses angles of any size and orientation. This embodiment is in no way limiting to a specific number of angles or segments, nor is it limiting as to the axis, orientations, planes, or other configurations.

[039] 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.

[040] 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.

[041 ] 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.

[042] 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.

[043] 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.

[044] 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.