Golf shoe outsole

Abstract

A golf shoe outsole has a generally low, heel-less profile and includes zonal traction regions in an arch area of the outsole, each of which supports at least one dynamic traction element and at least one static traction element. The zonal traction regions each have portions separated by a recessed or hinge area therebetween. The forefoot area of the outsole includes parallel channels joined by a diagonal channel, which create independent traction elements support on separate pods to provide enhanced flexibility within the forefoot area and between the forefoot area and the rest of the outsole.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A golf shoe outsole comprising:
 a low profile outsole member having a heel end, opposite toe end, lateral side and opposed medial side, the outsole member defining first, second, third and fourth quarter sections extending from the heel and to the toe end, the second and third quarter sections having a boundary therebetween defining a lateral mid-line through the outsole, the outsole member having a heel region proximate the heel end, forefoot region proximate to the toe end, and arch region therebetween, the outsole member defining a heel centerline that substantially bisects the heel region and extends from the heel end to the toe end; and   at least one dynamic traction element attached to the outsole member and located within the second quarter section and at least partially on the heel centerline.   
     
     
         2 . The golf shoe outsole of  claim 1  including at least two dynamic traction elements attached to the outsole member and located within the second quarter section and at least partially on the heel centerline. 
     
     
         3 . The golf shoe outsole of  claim 1  wherein each dynamic traction element is removably attachable to the outsole member. 
     
     
         4 . The golf shoe outsole of  claim 2  wherein each dynamic traction element is a spike cleat having a plurality of flexible legs. 
     
     
         5 . The golf shoe outsole of  claim 1  wherein the outsole member includes a zonal traction region and the dynamic traction element is attached to the zonal traction region. 
     
     
         6 . The golf shoe outsole of  claim 5  wherein the zonal traction region is made from a material having a greater rigidity than an adjacent outsole surface area. 
     
     
         7 . The golf shoe outsole of  claim 2  wherein the outsole member includes at least two independent zonal traction regions, and at least one dynamic traction element is attached to each zonal traction region. 
     
     
         8 . The golf shoe outsole of  claim 7  wherein the zonal traction regions are made of a material that is more rigid than an adjacent outsole surface area. 
     
     
         9 . The golf shoe outsole of  claim 5  wherein plural dynamic traction elements are attached to each zonal traction region, and at least one of the dynamic traction elements is located within the second quarter section. 
     
     
         10 . The golf shoe outsole of  claim 5  including a plurality of directional static traction elements attached to each zonal traction region, which have a longitudinal axis that is substantially radially aligned with a centerpoint of the dynamic traction element. 
     
     
         11 . A golf shoe outsole comprising:
 an outsole member having no raised heel, the outsole having a heel end and opposite toe end, the outsole defining a heel area, forefoot area and arch area therebetween, the outsole member defining a heel centerline that substantially bisects the heel area and extends from the heel end to the toe end, passing through the arch area and forefoot area; and   first and second zonal traction regions coupled to the outsole which are substantially bisected by the heel centerline, the first zonal traction region having one end in the arch area and another end in the heel area, the second zonal traction region having one end in the arch area and another end in the forefoot area; and   at least one dynamic traction element attached to each zonal traction region.   
     
     
         12 . The golf shoe outsole of  claim 11  further including at least one static traction element attached to each zonal traction region. 
     
     
         13 . The golf shoe outsole of  claim 12  further including plural static traction elements attached to each zonal traction region and having a longitudinal axis in substantial radial alignment with the center of at least one dynamic traction element. 
     
     
         14 . The golf shoe outsole of  claim 11  wherein the first and second zonal traction regions have ends that are proximate to one another and are separated by a recessed channel. 
     
     
         15 . The golf shoe outsole of  claim 11  wherein the first and second zonal traction regions are integral extensions of one another. 
     
     
         16 . The golf shoe outsole of  claim 11  wherein the first and second zonal traction regions each are substantially symmetrical relative to the heel centerline and have leg portions separated by a recessed area therebetween. 
     
     
         17 . The golf shoe outsole of  claim 11  wherein the first and second zonal traction regions each have a substantially “V” shaped configuration, and each have plural dynamic traction elements and plural static traction elements coupled thereto. 
     
     
         18 . The golf shoe outsole of  claim 17  wherein the dynamic traction elements are detachable spike cleats and the static traction elements are non-detachable lug cleats. 
     
     
         19 . The golf shoe outsole of  claim 17  wherein the first and second zonal traction regions are formed of a material that is more rigid than an adjacent surface area of the outsole. 
     
     
         20 . A golf shoe outsole comprising:
 a low profile outsole member having a toe end, heel end, lateral side edge and an opposed medial side edge, the outsole member defining a heel area, forefoot area and arch area therebetween;   first and second channels formed in the forefoot area of the outsole, the first and second channels extending substantially from the lateral side edge to the medial side edge and being substantially parallel to one another; and   a third channel extending diagonally from the first channel to the second channel to create laterally opposed, outsole pod areas.   
     
     
         21 . The golf shoe outsole of  claim 20  further including at least one dynamic traction element coupled to each outsole pad area. 
     
     
         22 . The golf shoe outsole of  claim 21  further including at least one static traction element coupled to each outsole pod area. 
     
     
         23 . The golf shoe outsole of  claim 22  wherein each dynamic traction element is a detachable spike cleat, and each static traction element is a non-detachable lug cleat. 
     
     
         24 . An athletic shoe outsole comprising:
 a substantially flat base surface extending from a heel end to a toe end of the outsole, the flat base surface defining first, second, third and fourth quarter sections moving from the heel end to the toe end, the base surface defining a heel region, forefoot region and arch region therebetween;   a first zonal traction region located at least partially within the second quarter section; and   a second zonal traction region located at least partially within the second quarter region;   the first and second zonal traction regions each supporting at least one dynamic traction element that is at least partially located in the second quarter section and within the arch region of the base surface, each traction element being substantially centered between lateral and medial sides of the outsole.   
     
     
         25 . The athletic shoe outsole of  claim 24  wherein the first and second zonal traction regions each support plural dynamic traction elements and plural static traction elements having a height less than the dynamic traction elements.