Golf shoe

Abstract

Described herein is a golf shoe that includes an upper with an exterior layer and an internal reinforcing band positioned interiorly of the exterior layer. A portion of the internal reinforcing band extends across a toe region of the upper. The internal reinforcing band is made from a polymeric material. The golf shoe also includes an outsole that is coupled to the upper. Further, the golf shoe includes a plurality of traction elements that are removably coupled to the outsole.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf shoe, comprising:
 an upper comprising an exterior layer and an internal reinforcing band positioned interiorly of the exterior layer, wherein a portion of the internal reinforcing band extends across a toe region of the upper, the internal reinforcing band being made from a polymeric material;   an outsole coupled to the upper; and   a plurality of traction elements removably coupled to the outsole.   
     
     
         2 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the internal reinforcing band is made from a thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         3 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the internal reinforcing band is flexible. 
     
     
         4 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the internal reinforcing band has a thickness of at most about 0.08 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the internal reinforcing band is a first internal reinforcing band, the upper further comprising a second internal reinforcing band positioned interiorly of the exterior layer and extending along a lateral side of the upper from the first internal reinforcing band away from the outsole. 
     
     
         6 . The golf shoe of  claim 5 , wherein the upper further comprises a third internal reinforcing band positioned interiorly of the exterior layer and extending along a lateral side of the upper from the first internal reinforcing band away from the outsole and toward the second internal reinforcing band. 
     
     
         7 . A golf shoe, comprising:
 an upper;   an outsole coupled to the upper, wherein the outsole is made from a thermoplastic block copolymer having a hardness between about 25 Shore D and about 72 Shore D; and   a plurality of traction elements removably coupled to the outsole.   
     
     
         8 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic block copolymer comprises a thermoplastic amide block copolyether. 
     
     
         9 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the entire outsole is made from the thermoplastic block copolymer having a hardness between about 25 Shore D and about 75 Shore D. 
     
     
         10 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein a toe portion of the outsole is made from the thermoplastic block copolymer having a hardness between about 25 Shore D and about 75 Shore D, and midfoot and heel portions of the outsole are made from a polymeric material having a lower hardness than the thermoplastic block copolymer of the toe portion. 
     
     
         11 . The golf shoe of  claim 10 , wherein the polymeric material of the midfoot and heel portions comprises a polyamide produced by the polycondensation of 1,6-hexamethylenediamine or 1,10-decamethylenediamine, and 1,10-decanedicarboxylic acid (sebacic acid,) or 1,12-dodecanedicarboxylic acid. 
     
     
         12 . A golf shoe, comprising:
 an upper;   an outsole coupled to the upper, the outsole comprising a heel portion coupled to a toe portion of the outsole via a midfoot portion of the outsole, wherein an interior surface of the outsole comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs extending longitudinally along the midfoot portion of the outsole; and   a plurality of traction elements removably coupled to an exterior surface of the outsole.   
     
     
         13 . The golf shoe of  claim 12 , wherein a height of at least one of the plurality of reinforcing ribs gradually decreases in a toe-to-heel direction. 
     
     
         14 . The golf shoe of  claim 12 , wherein a width of at least one of the plurality of reinforcing ribs varies along a length of the at least one of the plurality of reinforcing ribs. 
     
     
         15 . The golf shoe of  claim 12 , wherein the outsole comprises a base having a substantially constant thickness throughout the toe, heel, and midfoot portions of the outsole, the plurality of reinforcing ribs extending uprightly from the base. 
     
     
         16 . The golf shoe of  claim 15 , wherein the thickness of the base throughout the toe, heel, and midfoot portions is between about 1.2 mm and about 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The golf shoe of  claim 15 , further comprising a heel pad adjoined to the base at the heel portion of the outsole adjacent the plurality of reinforcing ribs, the heel pad being made from a foam rubber material. 
     
     
         18 . The golf shoe of  claim 17 , wherein the heel pad is coupled to the plurality of reinforcing ribs, an upper surface of the heel pad being substantially flush with upper surfaces of the plurality of reinforcing ribs. 
     
     
         19 . A golf shoe, comprising:
 an upper comprising a closure region, a sole region, and a side region extending between the closure and sole regions;   an outsole attached to the sole region of the upper, the outsole comprising at least ten receptacles;   at least ten traction members each removably coupled to a respective one of the at least ten receptacles;   wherein the golf shoe has a weight of less than about 13 ounces.   
     
     
         20 . The golf shoe of  claim 19 , wherein the golf shoe has a weight of less than about 12 ounces. 
     
     
         21 . The golf shoe of  claim 19 , wherein the golf shoe has a weight of less than about 11 ounces. 
     
     
         22 . A golf shoe, comprising:
 an upper comprising a closure region, a sole region, and a side region extending between the closure and sole regions, wherein the upper comprises an exterior layer and a plurality of internal reinforcing bands positioned interiorly of the exterior layer, wherein a portion of one of the plurality of internal reinforcing band extends across a toe region of the upper, the plurality of internal reinforcing bands being made from a thermoplastic polyurethane and having a thickness of no more than about 0.08 mm;   an outsole attached to the sole region of the upper, the outsole comprising at least ten receptacles, wherein the entire outsole is made from a thermoplastic amide block copolyether having a hardness between about 25 Shore D and about 72 Shore D, and wherein an interior surface of the outsole comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs extending longitudinally along a midfoot portion of the outsole, the outsole comprising a base having a thickness between about 1.2 mm and about 1.5 mm throughout toe, heel and midfoot portions of the outsole; and   at least ten traction members each removably coupled to a respective one of the at least ten receptacles;   
       wherein the golf shoe has a weight of less than about 13 ounces.