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  Variable surface sole for bowling and other shoesUSPTO Application #: 20070107268Title: Variable surface sole for bowling and other shoes Abstract: For virtually any kind of shoe, regions at the front and/or back of the heel and/or forsesole can be raised or lowered relative to the remainder of that bottom surface. In this manner, one or both of a friction or pronation adjustment can be made at the front, back, or lateral side of the foresole or heel. An adjustment device is operatively associated with one region in one of a first (foresole) or second (heel) weight bearing bottom surface, for raising and lowering the region relative to the bottom surface surrounding the region, thereby adjusting the overall texture of the weight bearing bottom surface. (end of abstract) Agent: Alix Yale & Ristas LLP - Hartford, CT, US Inventors: Thomas Seeman, Stephen M. Pasternak USPTO Applicaton #: 20070107268 - Class: 036130000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Boots, Shoes, And Leggings, Boots And Shoes, Occupational Or Athletic Shoe (e.g., Roof Climbing, Gardening, Etc.), Athletic Shoe Or Attachment Therefor, For Bowling The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070107268. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e), of U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/735,796 filed Nov. 11, 2005. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention pertains to performance footwear, especially walking and athletic shoes, and most particularly, bowling shoes. [0003] As has been recognized for a number of years, and as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,907,682, experienced bowlers often desire that each of the left and right shoes exhibit different characteristics, especially with respect to sliding friction on the smooth, wooden or synthetic floors typically present in the approach region of a bowling lane. Moreover, even for one or the other of the left or right shoe, such bowler typically desires a different sliding characteristic on the foresole portion verses the heel portion of that shoe sole. In yet a further customization, the bowler may desire that the friction characteristics of each foresole and heel be adjustable depending on, for example, the surface characteristics of the bowling center in which a particular competition is staged, the day-to-day changes in temperature and humidity in the bowling center, or increase in confidence as the bowler warms up and reaches peak performance during the course of a match. [0004] One technique for permitting a bowler to adjust the friction characteristics of one or both shoes, even during competition, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,198. The concept described therein provides for replaceable foresole and heel surface elements of different configurations and performance characteristics. Although this technique has enjoyed some commercial success, it has the disadvantages of requiring a bowler to carry a kit of varying replacement pads and, even with such a variety of pads, each adjustment increment is a step change, without continuous adjustability. A related technique is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,662,475 and 6,662,476. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] According to an aspect of the present invention, the effective friction of the shoe is adjusted by changing the position, especially raising or lowering, a region of the bottom surface of the heel and/or foresole. [0006] For virtually any kind of shoe, regions at the front and/or back of the heel and/or forsesole can be raised or lowered relative to the remainder of that bottom surface. In this manner, one or both of a friction or pronation adjustment can be made at the front, back, or lateral side of the foresole or heel. [0007] An adjustment device is operatively associated with one region in one of a first (foresole) or second (heel) weight bearing bottom surface, for raising and lowering the region relative to the bottom surface surrounding the region, thereby adjusting the overall texture of the weight bearing bottom surface. [0008] In general, the shoe comprises an upper supported by a sole extending generally along a longitudinal centerline. The sole has an optionally recessed arch, a foresole defining a first, weight bearing bottom surface longitudinally forward of the arch, and a heel defining a second weight bearing bottom surface longitudinally behind the arch. Each of the first and second weight bearing surfaces are formed by contiguous regions, such as central, front, and lateral regions, which together establish overall floor or ground contact characteristics for each of the first and second weight bearing surfaces. By adjusting surface irregularities in at least one region of the heel or foresole, the overall ground contact characteristics are likewise adjusted. For convenience, the term "texture" will be used to refer to the pattern of irregularities in the floor or ground contact surface of the heel or foresole. [0009] Viewed from a different perspective, the first and/or second weight bearing surface has an overall nominal or reference texture, and at least one, optionally distinct, region is adjustable to a plurality of fixed positions or orientations relative to the surrounding surface, thereby altering the overall texture of the bottom surface. For example, some adjustable regions can be made from a different material than the surrounding surface of the heel or foresole, and the degree of adjustment of the region determines the relative contribution of the various heel or foresole surfaces to the overall sliding or friction performance of, e.g., a bowling shoe. [0010] Lateral adjustment can alter the effective friction characteristics of the shoe and the time dependent friction force resulting from a bowler's unique weight transfer in the foot bed during the course of completing the delivery of the bowling ball. Such adjustment can affect the area of the foresole or heel that first contacts the floor, the total area of the foresole or heel in contact with the floor during a stroke, and the weight distribution over the heel or foresole. [0011] The ability to adjust the heel or foresole, front-to-back and side-to-side can also provide benefits in other performance characteristics that do not depend significantly on the user's sensitivity to sliding friction, but do depend on comfort or safety. In this respect, the present invention can provide pronation adjustment at the exterior of the sole, whether or not sliding and/or braking are important performance considerations. [0012] Another advantage achievable with the present invention, is the ability to effectuate a reverse inclination on either the heel or foresole. Bowling, athletic, and other performance shoes, as well as street shoes, are universally manufactured with the main weight bearing, ground contacting surfaces of the heel in substantially the same plane as the main weight bearing, ground contacting surfaces of the foresole. In other words, the foresole and heel lie flat on a flat surface. As an example with an adjustable heel according to the invention, the neutral adjustment position can correspond to the conventional coplanar relationship between the heel and the foresole, but with adjustment options the back region of the heel weight bearing surface can be effectively raised or lowered. This added capability can be attractive to some bowlers who have unusual approaches, foot shapes, or braking tendencies. [0013] The adjustment device can have a drive member at least partially embedded in the heel or foresole and operatively associated with at least one of the regions of the heel or foresole. An actuator is connected to the drive member for raising or lowering at least a portion of the region relative to the bottom surface surrounding the raised or lowered surface of the region, thereby adjusting the overall texture of the bottom surface. The adjustable portion of a region can be a distinct pad and the adjustment device selectively raises or lowers the pad. The pad can have one or more cleats. [0014] The adjustment device is preferably accessible as the sole faces the user's hand or a tool in the user's hand. Alternatively, the adjustment device can be accessed at an upstanding lateral surface of the heel, such as at the back rim. Actuation of the device can be by any means under the control of the end-user of the shoe. An adjustable plug, jack, lever or the like can be pushed or extended through the footbed or mid sole, to extend a pad in the heel or foresole. An air injection pump or other diaphragm or bladder-type member can likewise be used for this purpose. [0015] The adjustment device can take a variety of forms. In one embodiment, one disc is embedded in a base portion of the sole, such as in the midsole, and another disc is embedded in a movable pad of the sole, with a threaded bore for receiving a worm screw or the like that has its drive end accessible at the exterior of the sole. With a screw driving device such as an Allen wrench or the like, the user can readily displace the disc in the movable pad relative to the stationary disc in the base of the sole, thereby raising or lowering the pad. This can be implemented for continuous adjustment, or be ratcheted for repeatable stepwise adjustment. [0016] In another form, the adjustment device could be a disc interposed between the base portion of the sole and the movable pad in the sole, mounted for rotation with an arc of the disc accessible externally for rotation by the user. The disc has a variable thickness that cams the pad up or down. [0017] It should thus be appreciated that an important aspect of the invention is that the exposed surface of the sole, i.e., one or both of the heel or foresole, is adjusted, not the footbed or other shoe component that conforms to the wearer's foot. The purpose of the adjustment is to increase or decrease the surface area of the sole, or the particular regions of the sole, that contact the ground or floor. The footbed remains in the same relation to the shoe centerline, but the exposed surface of the adjusted sole portion changes. This adjustment can affect the timing of when certain portions of the sole contact the ground, which of multiple materials contact the ground and in what sequence, and how the weight of the wearer is distributed on various portions of the foresole and heel. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0018] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the bottom of a bowling shoe for the left foot, having an adjustment pad in the foresole and an adjustment pad in the heel, substantially centered on the shoe centerline; [0019] FIG. 2 is a section view along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing an adjustment mechanism for raising or lowering the heel pad relative to the surrounding bottom surface; [0020] FIG. 3 is a section view through line 3-3 of FIG. 1, showing an adjustment device and associated pad in the foresole, that function substantially the same as the actuation device and pad shown in FIG. 2; Continue reading... Full patent description for Variable surface sole for bowling and other shoes Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Variable surface sole for bowling and other shoes patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Variable surface sole for bowling and other shoes or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Athletics shoe Next Patent Application: Dipper door latch with locking mechanism Industry Class: Boots, shoes, and leggings ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Variable surface sole for bowling and other shoes patent info. 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