US4380878A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Outsole
Assignee: Keds Corp
•
Filing: 1980-09-26
•
Granted: 1983-04-26
•
Expires: 2000-09-26
Abstract
Abstract An outsole for an athletic shoe features an integrally molded sole unit having outwardly extending receptacles located in the ball and heel area, and replaceable wear plugs mounted in the receptacles.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph J. Skaja
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:21
CPC Classifications
A; A43; A43B; A43B5/00; A43B5/06; A43B13/00; A43B13/14; A43B13/22; A43B13/24; A43B13/26; A43C; A43C15/00; A43C15/16; A43C15/161; A43C15/162; A43C15/164; A43C15/167
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
An outsole for an athletic shoe comprising: a flexible integrally molded sole unit, said sole unit having multiplicity of outwardly extending receptacles integrally molded at the ball and heel portions of said sole unit, said receptacles having integral wall portions, plugs demountably held by said receptacles, said plugs having surfaces in contact with and held by said wall portions, said sole unit having an outwardly extending bar unit around the perimeter thereof, and said perimeter bar being discontinuous and tapered in height in the region adjacent the toe of said shoe.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
An outsole for an athletic shoe comprising: a flexible integrally molded sole unit, said sole unit having multiplicity of outwardly extending receptacles integrally molded at the ball and heel portions of said sole unit, said receptacles having integral wall portions, plugs demountably held by said receptacles, said plugs having surfaces in contact with and held by said wall portions, said sole unit having an outwardly extending bar unit around the perimeter thereof, and said perimeter bar being discontinuous and tapered in height in the region adjacent the toe of said shoe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The outsole of claim 1 wherein there are three of said receptacles positioned in a triangular configuration in the ball portion of said sole unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The outsole of claim 2 wherein one of said three receptacles is positioned adjacent the medial edge of said sole unit, and the other two of said three receptacles are positioned adjacent the lateral edge of said sole unit, leaving the middle metatarsal area thereof free.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The outsole of claim 1 wherein there is a pair of said receptacles positioned laterally opposed one another in the heel portion of said sole unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The outsole of claim 1 wherein the outer end of each of said plugs has a circumferential lip portion, and each of said receptacles has a corresponding circumferential rim portion which extends outwardly beyond said lip portion when a plug is inserted therein, whereby said rim acts to prevent edge lift of said plug.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The outsole of claim 9 wherein each of said receptacles is flared at the end connected to the sole unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The outsole of claim 1 wherein the outer ends of said plugs extend beyond the outer end of said perimeter bar by an amount effective to permit the perimeter bar to contact the ground but not bear any significant load when said shoe is subjected to the weight of the user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The outsole of claim 7 wherein said sole unit has a multiplicity of studs positioned adjacent said receptacles, said studs extending outwardly from said sole unit the same distance as said perimeter bar.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The outsole of claim 1 wherein said sole unit has a multiplicity of outwardly extending studs positioned adjacent said receptacles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The outsole of claim 9 wherein the longitudinal axis of each of said studs is transverse to the longitudinal axis of said outsole.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The outsole of claim 9 wherein said studs are triangular in transverse section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The outsole of claim 9 wherein said plugs are varied in height by predetermined amounts.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The outsole of claim 12 wherein said plugs are selectively varied compressive materials.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The outsole of claim 9 wherein said plugs are materials with selectively varied frictional characteristics.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The outsole of claim 9 wherein said plugs are synthetic rubber with a hardness range of 50 to 60 on the Shore A scale.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The outsole of claim 9 wherein said sole unit is on the order of 0.060 inch thick polyester polyurethane with a hardness range of 50 to 90 on the Shore A scale.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1068073A
Cited
US1165235A
Cited
US1299037A
Cited
US1524997A
Cited
US2049598A
Cited
US2330458A
Cited
US2745197A
Cited
DE1760262U
Cited
US3486249A
Cited
US3662478A
Cited
US3715817A
Cited
US3808713A
Cited
US4141158A
Cited
US4043058A
Cited
US4212120A
Cited
US4085527A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-04-25 | 1986-10-25 | 1987-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-04-25 | 1990-10-25 | 1991-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-04-25 | 1994-10-25 | 1995-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |