TRACTION ADJUSTMENT BAND FOR SHOE

Abstract

Disclosed is a traction adjustment band for emplacement on a shoe, comprising: an upper band; a sole band; a first attachment interface connecting one end of the upper band to one end of the sole band; and a second attachment interface connecting another end of the upper band to another end of the sole band so as to form a unitary band.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates broadly to footwear, and more specifically to devices for adjusting the traction of a shoe on a particular supporting surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dance moves often involve pivoting on the ball of the foot. When a dancer attempts to dance while wearing standard aerobics shoes, she may find that certain dance moves are difficult to execute. As a consequence, the dancer may incur knee injuries because the treads on her aerobic shoes, which are designed to minimize slipping between the shoe and the floor surface, are not suitable for performing the dance moves. Thus, when the dancer twists her hips, her aerobic shoes may resist the pivoting motion, her knee may be inadvertently twisted, and an injury may result. There has been a rise in these types of injuries as dance/aerobics programs gain popularity in mainstream gyms. Often, a casual participant in the dance/aerobic program owns a pair of shoes designed for aerobic movements but does not wish to incur the additional cost of purchasing a second pair of shoes designed for dance movements.

The present invention addresses the above problems by providing to the user a traction adjustment band for adjusting the aggregate coefficient of friction between the user's shoes and a surface used for physical movements and activities.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a method of adapting a shoe configured for a first physical activity into a modified shoe suitable for a second physical activity on a floor comprises: providing a traction adjustment band, the traction adjustment band including an upper band and a sole band; placing the traction adjustment band around the shoe such that the upper band is disposed on an upper portion of the shoe and the sole band is disposed across a sole of the shoe; and adjusting placement of the sole band on the shoe sole so as to produce the modified shoe, the modified shoe thus having a desired coefficient of friction with the floor, the desired coefficient of friction being substantially equivalent to a coefficient of friction with the floor that is provided by an activity shoe that is configured for the second physical activity.

In another aspect of the present invention, a traction adjustment band suitable for emplacement on a shoe comprises: an upper band; a sole band; a first attachment interface connecting a first end of the upper band to a first end of the sole band; and a second attachment interface connecting a second end of the upper band to a second end of the sole band so as to form a unitary band assembly configured to enclose the upper and the sole of the shoe.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a traction adjustment band suitable for emplacement on a shoe comprises: an upper band including a first upper segment, a second upper segment, and a hook-and-loop fastener pair, the hook-and-loop fastener pair removably securing the first upper segment to the second upper segment; a sole band; a first attachment interface connecting one end of the upper band to one end of the sole band; and a second attachment interface connecting another end of the upper band to another end of the sole band so as to form a unitary band. .

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a traction adjustment band having an upper band attached to a lower band, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the traction adjustment band of FIG. 1 showing typical placement on aerobic shoes;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of different shoe soles, two soles showing different emplacements of the traction adjustment band of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an alternative embodiment of traction adjustment band of FIG. 1, showing a section of woven elastic and a section of plastic embedded woven elastic;

FIG. 5 is another alternative embodiment of traction adjustment band of FIG. 1, showing a loop of elastic partially enclosed in a non-elastic material sleeve;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of alternate embodiments of the traction adjustment band of FIG. 1 showing upper bands having different widths from sole bands;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of two of the traction adjustment band of FIG. 1 adapted for use on a single shoe;

FIG. 8 is an alternative embodiment of traction adjustment band of FIG. 4, showing a shorter section of woven elastic and a longer section of plastic embedded woven elastic; and

FIG. 9 shows alternative embodiments of traction adjustment band of FIG. 1, showing one embodiment using two loops used in place of a single upper band and another embodiment using two loops in place of a single sole band.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The disclosed traction adjustment band may function to selectively reduce the traction, or coefficient of friction, between the wearer's shoe on a particular floor or other support surface. In an exemplary embodiment, the traction adjustment band may reduce the shoe-to-floor traction so that a wearer of standard walking or running shoes may be able to execute dance moves with a reduced risk of injury to the knees. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, traction adjustment bands may function to selectively increase the traction between a wearer's dance shoes on a surface such that the wearer may be able to perform aerobic and similar exercise movements without slippage. Advantageously, the traction adjustment band allows the wearer to customize the amount of traction, or the coefficient of friction, provided between the shoe and the floor surface. The amount of “grip” obtainable is thus a function of the traction adjustment band properties and the surface attributes of the particular floor.

The traction adjustment band may be worn comfortably without shifting during vigorous physical activity. The traction adjustment band is configured to stay in place during an entire dance routine, for example. The traction adjustment band also serves to allow for an increased range of motion in the wearer's hips when the wearer is dancing or otherwise moving in shoes with the band, as compared to when the wearer may be moving in shoes without the traction adjustment band. As a result, the traction adjustment band wearer needs to exert less force to as his or her feet twist or slide on the floor. Moreover, as hip movement is less restricted because of the reduced aggregate friction between the shoe and the floor, the wearer will find it easier to swing the hips.

In an exemplary embodiment, the invention comprises a traction adjustment band 10, shown in FIG. 1, comprising an upper band 12 secured to a sole band 14 at a first attachment interface 16 and a second attachment interface 18 to form a unitary band assembly or loop. The attachment interfaces 14 and 18 may comprise: (i) stitching of the upper band 12 to the sole band 14, (ii) using an adhesive to produce a permanent adhesion of the upper band 12 to the sole band 14, (iii) applying heat to produce a thermal bond between the upper band 12 and the sole band 14, or (iv) any combination of stitching, adhesive, and thermal bonding.

The total circumference of the traction adjustment band 10, and the individual lengths of the upper band 12 and the sole band 14, may be varied according to the particular shoe size for which the traction adjustment band 10 is fabricated. The width of the upper band 12 and the width of the sole band 14 may range from about 0.25 inches to about three inches. It should be understood that the width of the upper band 12 need not be the same as the width of the sole band 14, as described in greater detail below.

The traction adjustment band 10 is configured to be worn transversely around the outside of a shoe 20, with the sole band 14 positioned under the arch or ball of the wearer's foot on the sole 22 of the shoe 20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In an exemplary embodiment, the sole band 14 passing under the shoe may comprise a woven elastic material, whereas the upper band 12 may comprise a less elastic material or a non-elastic material. By so emplacing the woven elastic material over a portion of the shoe sole 22, this may serve to reduce the aggregate coefficient of friction of the shoe sole 22 with a smooth surface, such as a tile floor or a wooden floor. This reduced coefficient of friction is thus less than the typical coefficient of friction between a rubber shoe sole (not shown) and the same floor surface, and provides the sought-for benefit to the wearer, as explained above.

For certain styles of shoe soles, such as an aerobic shoe 30 shown in FIG. 3, the sole band 14 may have the property of being sufficient flexible or elastic so as to partially extend into one or more grooves 34 found between treads 36 on the edges of and in the bottom surface of a shoe sole 32, as best seen in FIG. 3. Under such conditions, this flexing of the sole band 14 may advantageously serve to assist in holding the traction adjustment band 10 in place, even during vigorous physical activity by the wearer.

This holding feature of the traction adjustment band 10 allows for selective placement of the traction adjustment band 10 on the shoe sole 32. See, for example, the position of the traction adjustment band 10 near the ball of the wearer's foot to cover more of the weight-bearing region of the shoe sole 32 to provide “less grip” (indicated in the center shoe 30). Note also the position of the traction adjustment band 10 near the arch of the wearer's foot to expose more of the weight-bearing shoe sole 32 to provide “more grip” (indicated in the shoe 30 on the right).

It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the user or wearer can use two or more traction adjustment bands 40 or 42 of relatively thin widths, such as ¼-inch to ½-inch wide, in place of a single traction adjustment band of a larger width, such as one inch wide, as shown in FIG. 4. The larger the number of relatively thin traction adjustment bands 40, the less the treads of the shoe would touch the floor, and the less traction the wearer would feel as the effective coefficient of friction between the shoe and the floor is thereby decreased. The wearer could adjust the number of thin traction adjustment bands 40 on the shoe to obtain the desired reduction in traction. In this way, the wearer could selectively modify the traction by the placement of the bands 40 and 42, and the width or area of the material under the sole.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the upper band 12 may comprise a fabric consisting of a non-elastic material suitable for maintaining tension in the traction adjustment band 10, such as grosgrain ribbon. This provides the wearer with an attractive band of color on the upper portion of the shoe 20. A grosgrain ribbon, or similar material, may also provide a surface that can be used for marketing, with a screen printed or embroidered message, advertisement, logo, or promotional material printed on the outer surface of the grosgrain ribbon. A non-elastic material may be used for the upper band so that the markings can be screen printed or embroidered. With a non-elastic upper band, there is no need to heat treat the screen print ink, and no concern for stretching of the logo.

In another exemplary embodiment, a hook-and-loop fastener pair 44, shown on the modified traction adjustment band 42 in FIG. 4, the comprising a two-piece upper band 46 and a single-piece sole band 48. The hook-and-loop fastener pair 44 may comprise commercially-available Velcro® to provide circumferential adjustment at the upper band 46 to accommodate the different size footwear that an individual user might have for physical activity. Such adjustment can insure that the more-elastic sole band 48 is secure, yet comfortable to the wearer. With a hook-and-loop material, the wearer can change the diameter or circumference of the traction adjustment band 42, to tighten or to loosen the traction adjustment band 42 about the shoe of the user.

Depending on the shoe that the traction adjustment band 42 is placed over, for example, tennis shoes or dance shoes, the wearer may need to tighten the hook-and-loop fastener pair 44 on the upper band 46, to provide adequate tension in the traction adjustment band 42 so as to ensure that the sole band 48 stays in place. This can be accomplished because a first upper segment 45 is removably fastened to a second upper segment 47 with the hook-and-loop fastener pair 44. In most applications, such tension adjustment may be provided automatically by the elasticity of the sole band. But, for more substantial changes in diameter, the hook-and-loop fastener pair 44 can be used to accomplish this purpose. Likewise, a similar hook-and-loop pair (not shown) may be used at the first attachment interface 16 to secure the upper band 12 to the lower band 14, in FIG. 1, as is known in the relevant art.

In still another exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, a woven elastic material may be used to form the sole band 52 of a traction adjustment band 50. The sole band 52 may be attached to a woven lacy elastic material that forms an upper band 54 that extends across the top of a shoe (not shown). The sole band 52 may comprise an approximately two-inch length of plastic-embedded woven elastic or elastic material. That is, the sole band 52 is of a sufficient length to extend across most or all of the sole of a shoe, and be positioned under or near the ball of the foot of the wearer. The weave configuration provides for some degree of elasticity, and the infusion of plastic into the material serves to extend the wearable lifetime of the sole band 52. Advantageously, washable materials can be used in any of the embodiments disclosed herein, such that the traction adjustment band can be easily cleaned.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 6, a traction adjustment band 60 comprises a sole band 62 passing under a shoe that may be attached to a ventilation mesh that extends over the top of the shoe (not shown) to form an upper band 64. It should be understood that the lengths of the sole band 62 and the upper band 64 may be varied as desired by the designer of the traction adjustment band 60.

In another exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, a traction adjustment band 70 may comprise a continuous elastic band 72 of sufficient length to completely encircle the shoe, where the elastic band 72 may be encased in a non-elastic material sleeve 74 that would provide the marketing surface, as described above. The non-elastic material sleeve 74 may extend for only a portion of the length of the continuous elastic band 72, as shown, or alternatively, may extend for the entire length of the continuous elastic band 72.

In another exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 8, a traction adjustment band may comprise a relatively narrow upper band 82 connected to a wider sole band 84. Alternatively, the traction adjustment band may comprise a relatively wider upper band 86 connected to a more narrow sole band 88. It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that either the sole band 84, or the upper band 86 may alternatively comprise a shape having tapered ends in place of the rectangular shape, as shown.

In still other exemplary embodiments, shown in FIG. 9, a traction adjustment band may comprise a pair of relatively narrow upper bands 92 connected to a single, wider sole band 94, or may comprise a single, relatively wider upper band 96 connected to a pair of narrow sole bands 98.

Many of the specific details of certain embodiments of the invention are set forth in the above description and related drawings to provide a thorough understanding of such embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand, however, that the present invention may be practiced without several of the details described in the above description. Moreover, in the description, it is understood that the figures related to the various embodiments are not to be interpreted as conveying any specific or relative physical dimension.

Claims

1. A method of adapting a shoe configured for a first physical activity into a modified shoe suitable for a second physical activity on a floor, the method comprising the steps of: providing a traction adjustment band, said traction adjustment band including an upper band and a sole band;placing the traction adjustment band around the shoe such that said upper band is disposed on an upper portion of the shoe and said sole band is disposed across a sole of the shoe; andadjusting placement of said sole band on said shoe sole so as to produce the modified shoe, the modified shoe thus having a desired coefficient of friction with the floor, the desired coefficient of friction being substantially equivalent to a coefficient of friction with the floor that is provided by an activity shoe that is configured for the second physical activity.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said desired coefficient of friction for said modified shoe is less than a coefficient of friction of the unmodified shoe with the floor.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said desired coefficient of friction for the modified shoe is increased by repositioning said traction adjustment band along said sole of said sole of the shoe, from under the ball of the foot of a user toward the arch of the foot of the user.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said sole band covers a predetermined area of said sole of the shoe, said predetermined area having a width of from approximately 0.25 inch to approximately three inches.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the elasticity of said upper band is less than the elasticity of said sole band.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said upper band comprises a hook-and-loop fastener pair.

7. A traction adjustment band suitable for emplacement on a shoe, the traction adjustment band comprising: an upper band;a sole band;a first attachment interface connecting a first end of said upper band to a first end of said sole band; anda second attachment interface connecting a second end of said upper band to a second end of said sole band so as to form a unitary band assembly configured to enclose the upper and the sole of the shoe.

8. The traction adjustment band of claim 7 wherein said upper band comprises a substantially non-elastic fabric material.

9. The traction adjustment band of claim 7 wherein said upper band comprises a grosgrain ribbon.

10. The traction adjustment band of claim 7 wherein an outer surface of said upper band comprises a printing of at least one of a message, an advertisement, a logo, and a promotional material.

11. The traction adjustment band of claim 7 wherein said lower band comprises a substantially elastic fabric material.

12. The traction adjustment band of claim 11 wherein said substantially elastic fabric material comprises a plastic-embedded woven material.

13. The traction adjustment band of claim 7 further comprising a second sole band attached to said first end of said upper band and to said second end of said upper band.

14. The traction adjustment band of claim 7 further comprising a second upper band attached to said first end of said sole band and to said second end of said sole band.

15. The traction adjustment band of claim 7 wherein the width of said lower band is approximately 0.25 inch to approximately three inches.

16. The traction adjustment band of claim 7 wherein said upper band comprises a first upper segment and a second upper segment, said first upper segment removably secured to said second upper segment by a hook-and-loop fastener pair.

17. The traction adjustment band of claim 7 wherein said first attachment interface comprises at least one of stitching, adhesion, and thermal bonding.

18. A traction adjustment band suitable for emplacement on a shoe, the traction adjustment band comprising: an upper band including a first upper segment, a second upper segment, and a hook-and-loop fastener pair, said hook-and-loop fastener pair removably securing said first upper segment to said second upper segment;a sole band;a first attachment interface connecting one end of said upper band to one end of said sole band; anda second attachment interface connecting another end of said upper band to another end of said sole band so as to form a unitary band.

19. The traction adjustment band of claim 18 wherein the width of said upper band is different from the width of said sole band.

20. The traction adjustment band of claim 18 wherein said sole band comprises a woven material having plastic embedded therein to provide the shoe with a lower coefficient of friction with a support surface.