Patent Application
20180206594
The present disclosure generally relates to outsoles having tread wear indicators. A tread rib is adjacent to a projection feature of an outsole's tread pattern. The tread rib protrudes a first distance from an outsole body that is shorter than a second distance that the adjacent projection feature protrudes from the outsole body. Wear of one or more projection features, which may be a cleat, a heal, a heal strike, and the like, is indicated by the relative height of the tread rib to the adjacent projection feature.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes articles of footwear, which have many varying features depending on expected conditions that will be encountered by the footwear. Risk of slipping and falling is one hazard that PPE footwear is usually designed to safeguard against. Tread patterns of footwear can offer slip resistance over a wide range of surfaces such as dry, wet, and/or contaminated surfaces. Outsoles made from polymeric material and used in PPE footwear can erode during the course of wearing the PPE footwear.
There is a need to provide tread wear indicators for safety and inventory purposes.
Provided are outsoles with one or more tread ribs that are effective as tread wear indicators.
In an aspect, a polymeric outsole for an article of footwear comprises: an outsole body and a tread pattern that comprises a plurality of projecting features and channels between the projecting features. There is a first tread rib adjacent to a first projecting feature, the first tread rib protruding a first distance from the outsole body that is shorter than a second distance that the first projecting feature protrudes from the outsole body.
A detailed aspect provides: a polymeric outsole for an article of footwear comprises: an outsole body and a tread pattern that comprises a plurality of projecting features and channels between the projecting features. A first tread rib is adjacent to a first projecting feature selected from the group consisting of: a toe, a heel strike, and a cleat; the first tread rib being in a first channel of the outsole body and protruding a first distance from the outsole body that is shorter than a second distance that the first projecting feature protrudes from the outsole body. The first tread rib is effective as a wear indicator to indicate remaining useful life of the first projecting feature whereby during a first duration of wear, the first tread rib is not in contact with a ground surface while the first projecting feature is in contact with the ground surface, and during a second duration of wear, both the first tread rib and the first projecting feature are in contact with the ground surface.
In another aspect, an article of footwear comprises any polymeric outsole disclosed herein and an upper affixed to the outsole.
A further aspect is a method of making an article of footwear comprises: obtaining any polymeric outsole disclosed herein and affixing an upper to the outsole.
Another aspect provides a method of providing tread wear indication, the method comprising: obtaining any article of footwear disclosed herein; wearing the article of footwear; and observing the tread rib relative to the projecting features for an indication of remaining useful life transport of the projecting features.
Polymeric outsoles disclosed herein have an advantage in that a tread rib is effective as a tread wear indicator, providing a visual indication of remaining useful life of projection features of a tread pattern. The tread wear indicator may be used by the wearer to visually indicate when the tread pattern (e.g., cleats and other projecting features) has sustained abrasive wear. For example, when a tread rib is designed to be 50% of the height of an adjacent cleat and when the tread rib becomes level with the adjacent cleat after period of use, it is understood that the cleat has been worn to 50% of its original thickness. From there, it can be gauged as to when the boots will need replacing. As disclosed herein, the tread rib will be a shorter height than the surrounding or adjacent projection features, the degree to which it is shorter will depend on the application.
Outsoles having tread ribs are suitable for all types of articles of footwear for which an indication of wear would be useful. These articles have uppers that can be assembled with polymeric outsoles.
A “cleat” is a feature of an outsole, which is integral to a body of the outsole protruding from a surface of the outsole for traction purposes. An array of cleats and channels therebetween at least constitute a tread pattern. The cleats and overall tread pattern affords the wearer slip resistance over a wide range of surfaces.
A “tread rib” is a feature of an outsole that provides an indication of tread wear in that when the tread rib is even with one or more cleats of the outsole, an indication of remaining useful life is provided. The tread rib does not provide significant traction or fluid directing and is intended to minimize impact on the overall tread pattern.
Reference to “integral” means that in forming the outsole, any integral features forms a unitary structure with an outsole body. In one or more non-limiting embodiments, a mold is designed to include both a tread rib, cleats, channels, and the outsole body, in which case, a single injection of a polymeric material yields the unitary structure.
Reference to “affix” or “affixed” means that a pre-fabricated item connects to another item by way of gluing (e.g., adhesive or epoxy or other glue) or by direct attachment injection molding techniques.
Before describing several exemplary embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction or process steps set forth in the following description. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways.
Turning to the figures,
A mold for the outsole is prepared according to desired design features. One or more projecting features of the outsole tread pattern, include but are not limited to: a toe 108, a heel strike 112, and one or more cleats 114. A heel 110 is also a design feature. Channels 116 are located among and between the projecting features and are included as part of the overall tread pattern. Channels 116 do not protrude from the external surface 104, rather walls of the projecting features define the channels. Tread rib 124 is also an integrally-formed feature in this embodiment.
The outsole 100 has three areas: a forefoot area 118, a shank area 120, and a heel area 122. The outsole 100 is a unitary piece in that the forefoot area 118, the shank 120, and the heel area 122 are formed in the same mold by injection molding. The heal area 122 includes the heel 110 and extends to the heel kick 112. The heal area 122 also has a cleat 114 and a tread rib 124. The shank 120 is between the heel area 122 and the forefoot area 118. The shank area 120 generally does not include any projecting features. The shank area 120 may contain indicia regarding the shoe size and brand name. The forefoot area 118 includes the toe 108; a plurality of cleats 114 and corresponding channels 116 and at least one tread rib 124. The forefoot area 118 is from the forward-most part of the outsole 100 to the shank area 120.
One or more projecting features of the outsole tread pattern include but are not limited to: a toe 208, a heel strike 212, and one or more cleats 214. Channels 216 are located among and between the projecting features and are included as part of the overall tread pattern. Channels 216 do not protrude from the external surface 204, rather walls of the projecting features define the channels. Tread rib 224 is also a feature in this embodiment, which is integrally-formed in its respective forefoot pod 219 or heel pod 210.
The outsole 200 has three areas: a forefoot area 218, which is the forefoot pod 217; a shank area 220, which is the center shank 219; and a heel area 222, which is the heel pod 210. The outsole 200 is a combination of three pieces, each made separately and assembled in combination to form the outsole 200. The heal pod 210 includes the heel kick 212, cleats 214, and channels 216, along with a tread rib 224. The shank area 220 is between the heel area 222 and the forefoot area 218. The shank area 220 generally does not include any projecting features. The shank area 220 may contain indicia regarding the shoe size and brand name. The forefoot area 218 includes the toe 208; a plurality of cleats 214 and corresponding channels 116 and at least one tread rib 224. The forefoot area 218 is from the forward-most part of the outsole 200 to the shank area 220.
An aspect ratio of the tread rib 224 is defined as the ratio of L:W. The aspect ratio may be in the range of 1.5:1 to 10:1.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “certain embodiments,” “various embodiments,” “one or more embodiments” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases such as “in one or more embodiments,” “in certain embodiments,” “in various embodiments,” “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment of the disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
Although the disclosure herein provided a description with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure include modifications and variations that are within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/450,834, filed Jan. 26, 2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62450834 | Jan 2017 | US |
