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

Abstract

A footwear assembly having a dual density outsole with lugs and non-retractable studs in the lugs. Peripheral lugs are spaced apart from the outsole's longitudinal axis and central lugs are disposed adjacent to the longitudinal axis between the peripheral lugs. The peripheral lugs are taller than the central lugs and are made of a denser rubber. The studs embedded in the lugs with a shaft and tip portion exposed. The peripheral lugs having recessed flex grooves circular recesses coaxially aligned with the studs.

1 . A footwear assembly, comprising:
 An upper; and   A bottom component connected to the upper, the bottom component having a dual density outsole, the dual density outsole comprising a tread portion having a plurality of lugs and a plurality of non-retractable studs disposed in at least a portion of the lugs, the plurality of lugs comprising peripheral lugs spaced apart from a longitudinal axis of the outsole and a plurality of central lugs disposed at or adjacent to the longitudinal axis and between the peripheral lugs, the peripheral lugs being made of a first rubber material with a first density and the central lugs being made of a second rubber material with a second rubber with a second density different than the first rubber, the peripheral lugs define a first engagement surface plane and the central lugs define a second engagement surface plane offset from the first engagement surface plane, the studs are at least partially embedded in the lugs with a shaft and tip portion being exposed and project past the first engagement surface plane of the peripheral lugs; the peripheral lugs having flex groove therein recessed from the first engagement service plane and substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and about which the peripheral lugs can flex, the peripheral lugs having a circular recess in communication with the flex grooves and substantially coaxially aligned with the studs such that the shaft and tip portions project through the circular recess.   
     
     
         2 . A footwear outsole assembly with a dual density outsole, comprising:
 A tread portion;   A plurality of non-retractable studs having a shaft portion and a tip portion; and   A plurality of lugs projecting from the tread portion and supporting the plurality of studs, the bottom component connected to the upper, the lugs comprising peripheral lugs spaced apart from a longitudinal axis of the outsole and a plurality of central lugs disposed adjacent to the longitudinal axis and between the peripheral lugs, the peripheral lugs being made of a first rubber material with a first density and the central lugs being made of a second rubber material with a second density different than the first density, the peripheral lugs define a first engagement surface plane and the central lugs define a second engagement surface plane recessed relative to the first engagement surface plane, the non-retractable studs being at least partially embedded in the lugs with a shaft and tip portion being exposed and project past the first engagement surface plane of the peripheral lugs, the peripheral lugs having flex groove therein recessed from the first engagement service plane and about which the peripheral lugs can flex, the peripheral lugs having a concave portion recessed relative to the flex grooves and configured with the shaft and tip portions of the studs project through the concave portion.