Footwear assemblies with removable enhanced traction devices and associated methods of use and manufacture

Abstract

Footwear assemblies including removable enhanced traction devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a footwear assembly includes a footwear product with an outsole that removably receives a traction enhancing device. The outsole includes a tread pattern having a plurality of channels corresponding to portions of the traction device. The traction device includes multiple webs or straps that carry studs or other types of protrusions for improved traction. When a user attaches the traction device to the footwear product, the channels in the outsole removably receive the corresponding webs, thereby positioning the protrusions to extend away from the outsole. The outsole can also include one or more channels extending around one or more peripheral portions of the footwear product (e.g., around the side, back and/or front) to receive corresponding portions of the traction device and retain the traction device on the footwear product.

1 . A footwear assembly, comprising:
 a footwear product including an outsole having a tread pattern with multiple channels extending through the outsole; and   a traction enhancing device removably coupled to the outsole, wherein the traction enhancing device comprises:
 multiple webs configured to be removably received in the corresponding channels of the outsole; and 
 one or more studs carried by the webs, wherein the one or more studs are configured to extend away from the outsole when the webs are received in the corresponding channels. 
   
     
     
         2 . The footwear assembly of  claim 1  wherein the channels are first channels extending through a bottom portion of the outsole, and wherein the outsole further comprises second channels extending around one or more peripheral side portions of the outsole, the second channels being configured to removably receive corresponding webs extending peripherally around the outsole. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear assembly of  claim 1  wherein the outsole further comprises an arch portion positioned between a forefoot portion and a heel portion, and wherein the tread pattern is only at the forefoot and heel portions such that the webs do not extend across the arch portion when the webs are removably received in the corresponding channels. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear assembly of  claim 1  wherein the traction enhancing device further comprises a leverage member configured to engage a portion of the outsole to facilitate putting on and removing the traction enhancing device from the outsole. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear assembly of  claim 4  wherein the leverage member comprises a rigid member having an end portion shaped to correspond to a cross-sectional shape of the channels. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear assembly of  claim 1  wherein the traction enhancing device further comprises a tension adjuster configured to adjust the fit of the traction enhancing device on the outsole.