This patent application is a Continuation-In-Part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/795,575, filed on Feb. 20, 2020.
There are many different types of hiking shoes that have different features for different trail conditions. Most of the trails in the forests have pebbles which can make conventional hiking shoes fail to protect the wearers because the pebbles reduce friction between the hiking shoes and the paths of the trails, especially in rainy days. Some hiking shoes have spikes protruding from the outsole such that the spikes bite into the soil and provide better friction. However, theses spikes cannot perform as desired because pebbles rolls and small in size, spikes cannot penetrate through the pebbles to grab the shoes in the trail paths. The pebbles are easily stocked between spikes to affect the effective length of the spikes so that the spikes cannot bite into the soil.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,950,090, 5,960,568, 1,240,680, and US2016/0095383 respectively discloses a shoe with anti-slip blocks at the outsole thereof. However, each of the known prior arts includes a complicated structure and high manufacturing cost.
The present invention is intended to provide a hiking shoe that has anti-slip blocks, and spikes are located in some of the anti-slip blocks. Each spike protrudes beyond the anti-slip block corresponding thereto only when the hiking shoe is operated under action mode.
The present invention relates to a hiking shoe and comprises a vamp and an outsole. The outsole includes a front section and a rear section. The outsole has multiple anti-slip blocks formed to the front section and the rear section of the outsole. A portion of the anti-slip blocks of the front section and a portion of anti-slip blocks of the rear section of the outsole each have a spike received therein. Each spike has an end face that includes grooves defined therein.
The hiking shoe is operated under a stationary mode and an action mode. When the hiking shoe is operated under the stationary mode, the front section and the rear section of the outsole are applied by an identical pressing force. Each of the spikes does not protrude beyond the distal end of the anti-slip block corresponding thereto.
When the hiking shoe is operated under the action mode, the front the outsole is operated by a forward action and a step-down action. The rear section is lifted when the forward action is operated and the front section is pressed downward. The end face of each of the spikes of the front section protrudes beyond the distal end of the anti-slip block corresponding thereto. The front section is lifted when the step-down action is operated and the rear section is pressed downward. The end face of each of the spikes of the rear section protrudes beyond the distal end of the anti-slip block corresponding thereto.
Preferably, the front section of the outsole includes a first area and a second area. A first bending line is defined between the first and second areas. The first area is located close to the front end of the outsole. The second area is located close to the rear section of the outsole. The anti-slip blocks of the front section with the spikes therein are located along the first bending line. The first bending line is formed when the forward action of the hiking shoe is operated. The first area is pressed downward and the second area is lifted. The end face of each of the spikes located along the first bending line protrudes beyond the distal end of the anti-slip block corresponding thereto.
Preferably, the rear section of the outsole includes a third area and a fourth area. A second bending line is defined between the third and fourth areas. The fourth area is located close to the rear end of the outsole. The third area is located dose to the front section of the outsole. The anti-slip blocks of the rear section with the spikes therein are located along the second bending line. The second bending line is formed when the step-down action of the hiking shoe is operated, the fourth area is pressed downward and the third area is pressed downward following the fourth area is pressed downward. The end face of each of the spikes located along the second betiding; line protrudes beyond the distal end of the anti-slip block corresponding thereto.
Preferably, the rear section of the outsole includes a third area and a fourth area. A second bending line is defined between thee third and fourth areas. The fourth area is located close to the rear end of the outsole. The third area is located close to the second area of the outsole. The anti-slip blocks of the rear section with the spikes therein are located along the second bending The second bending line is formed when the step-down action of the hiking shoe is operated, the fourth area is pressed downward and the third area is pressed downward following the fourth area is pressed downward. The end face of each of the spikes located along the second betiding; line protrudes beyond the distal end of the anti-slip block corresponding thereto.
Preferably, the outsole includes a top face and a bottom face. The anti-slip blocks are formed to the bottom face of the outsole. The vamp is connected to the top face or the outsole. The vamp includes an opening and a trim portion which is located along a portion of the opening. The opening is configured to accept insertion of wearer's foot The outsole includes multiple passages defined through the top face and the bottom face. The passages are respectively defined through the anti-slip blocks that have the spikes therein.
Preferably, each passage includes a large-diameter area and a small-diameter area which communicates with the large-diameter area. The large-diameter area is recessed in the top face. The diameter of the large-diameter area is greater than that of the small-diameter area. The small-diameter area is defined through the bottom face. Each spike includes a head and a shank which is formed to the head. The head of the spike is located within the large-diameter area corresponding thereto. The shank of the spike is located within the small-diameter area corresponding thereto. The end face of each spike includes grooves defined therein.
Preferably, an independent spike is located between the anti-slip blocks of the rear section of the outsole. The independent spike and the spikes of the anti-slip blocks on the second bending line located at three points of an imaginary triangle.
Preferably, the grooves extend radially from a center of the end face of each spike.
Preferably, the spike in each of the anti-slip blocks is not rotatable relative to the anti-slip blocks.
Preferably, the shank of each spike includes a smooth outer surface and an identical diameter.
The advantages of the present invention are that the spikes are arranged in the first, second, third and fourth areas so that the grooves of the spikes contact pebbles on the trail paths and provide sufficient friction.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
Referring to
Specifically, when the hiking shoe 1 is operated the forward action, the sole of the foot applies the spikes 2 of the front section 14 a downward force as shown by the hollow arrow head in 8. Because the outsole 2 is made by rubber which is softer than the spikes 2 so that the outsole 2 is deformed upward as shown in the arrow heads in
As shown in
The rear section 15 of the outsole 12 includes a third area 151 and a fourth area. 152, and a second bending line “B” is defined between the third and fourth areas 151, 152. The fourth area 152 is located close to the rear end of the outsole 12. The third area 151 is located close to the second section 142 of the outsole 12. The anti-slip blocks 13 of the rear section 15 with the spikes 2 therein are located along the second bending line “B. The second bending line “B” is formed when the step-down action of the hiking shoe 1 is operated. When the hiking shoe 1 is operated with the step-down action, the fourth area 152 is pressed downward and the third area 151 is pressed downward following the fourth area 152 is pressed downward. The end face 21 of each of the spikes 2 located along the second bending line “B” is pressed and protrudes beyond the distal end of the anti-slip block 13 corresponding thereto. The third and third areas 151, 152 of the outsole 12 are deformed upward so that the grooves 22 of each of the spikes 2 located along the second bending line “B” contact the ground with the largest contact area to provide friction.
As shown in
It is noted that because the user's weight center will be located at the butt when walking or climbing, in order to provide a thither friction to keep balance, an independent spike 20 is located between the anti-slip blocks 13 of the rear section 15 of the outsole 12. The independent spike 20 and the spikes 2 of the anti-slip blocks 13 on the second bending line “B” located at three points of an imaginary triangle. One of the spikes 2 and the independent spike 20 is ensured to contact the ground to provide better friction.
While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16795576 | Feb 2020 | US |
Child | 17472676 | US | |
Parent | 16124201 | Sep 2018 | US |
Child | 16795576 | US |