Golf shoe spike

Abstract

A golf shoe spike fabricated from a soft thermoplastic rubber and including a one-piece body member with a planar base having a proximal surface and a distal surface, and a self-threading stud of a length shorter than the threaded spike socket into which it is inserted at installation. The spike includes an outer planar face which may further included a plurality of traction segments integral with the distal surface of the planar base and extending radially outward from the center of the planar base, each of said segments separated from adjoining segments by a notch. The spike cups when tightly screwed into a threaded spike socket, thus forming a rim on the outer circumference of the outer planar face.

What is claimed as invention is:  
     
         1 . A golf shoe spike for insertion into a threaded spike socket in the sole of a golf shoe, comprising: 
 a primary body member having a ground-facing outer planar surface and a sole-facing surface, said outer planar surface having an outer circumference;    a stud axially disposed from said sole-facing surface of said primary body and having a proximal end and a distal end, said stud having a length shorter than the depth of the spike socket into which it is inserted;    characterized in that when said spike is inserted and tightened in the threaded spike socket said ground-facing outer planar surface cups to form a raised rim at said outer circumference of said outer planar surface.    
     
     
         2 . The golf shoe spike of    claim 1   , wherein said spike is fabricated from a thermoplastic rubber having a Shore A hardness of between 80 and 94.  
     
     
         3 . The golf shoe spike of    claim 1   , where said spike is fabricated from a thermoplastic rubber having a Shore A hardness of between 87 and 90.  
     
     
         4 . The golf shoe spike of    claim 1   , wherein the primary body member has a substantially circular outer circumference.  
     
     
         5 . The golf shoe spike of    claim 1   , wherein said stud is self-threading and tapers from its proximal to its distal end.  
     
     
         6 . The golf shoe spike of    claim 5   , wherein said stud includes vertical ribbing.  
     
     
         7 . The golf shoe spike of    claim 1   , further comprising a substantially rectangular aperture in said outer planar surface for use in inserting or removing said spike with a tool.  
     
     
         8 . A removable golf shoe spike for insertion into a threaded spike socket, comprising: 
 a planar base member having a sole-facing surface and a ground-facing surface, and a geometric center;    a plurality of equidistantly-spaced traction segments integrally formed on said ground-facing surface of said planar base member, said segments extending radially outwardly from said geometric center;    a planar outer surface formed by said plurality of traction segments; and    a stud integrally formed with and axially disposed from said sole-facing surface of said planar base member, said stud having a proximal end and a distal end and is adapted for screwing into a threaded golf shoe spike socket.    
     
     
         9 . The golf shoe spike of    claim 8    wherein said planar base member has a substantially circular outer circumference.  
     
     
         10 . The golf shoe spike of    claim 8    wherein said plurality of traction segments are separated by substantially triangular notches in said primary body.  
     
     
         11 . The golf shoe spike of    claim 8    wherein said planar base member and said plurality of traction segments collectively comprise a substantially cylindrical shape.  
     
     
         12 . The golf shoe spike of    claim 8    wherein said planar outer surface includes a substantially rectangular aperture adapted for engagement with a coin or conventional screwdriver for installation into, and removal of said spike from, a threaded golf shoe female spike socket.  
     
     
         13 . The golf shoe spike of    claim 8    where said planar outer surface includes at least two circular openings for engagement with a conventional golf shoes spike wrench.  
     
     
         14 . The golf shoe spike of    claim 8    wherein said stud is self-threading and includes a plurality of vertical ribs.  
     
     
         15 . The golf shoe spike of    claim 14    where said self-threading stud tapers from its proximal to its distal end.  
     
     
         16 . The golf shoe spike of    claim 8   , wherein said stud has a length shorter than the depth of the spike socket into which it is inserted.  
     
     
         17 . The golf shoe spike of    claim 16    wherein said spike is fabricated from a thermoplastic rubber, wherein when said spike is tightened in the threaded spike socket said ground-facing outer planar surface cups to form a raised rim at said outer circumference of said outer planar surface.  
     
     
         18 . The golf shoe spike of    claim 16    wherein said spike has a shore A hardness of between 80-94.  
     
     
         19 . The golf shoe spike of    claim 16    wherein said spike has a shore A hardness of between 87-90.