Golf shoe having outsole with multi-surface traction zones

Abstract

Golf shoes having improved outsole constructions are provided. The golf shoes include upper, midsole, and outsole sections. The outsole includes a first set of arc pathways extending along the outsole in one direction. A second set of arc pathways extend along the outsole in a second direction. When the first and second arc pathways are superposed over each other, four-sided tile pieces are formed, and these tiles contain protruding traction members. In one embodiment, the tiles comprise a first protruding traction member, an opposing second protruding traction member, and a non-protruding segment disposed between the first and second traction members. Different traction zones containing different traction members are provided on the outsole. These zones provide improved multi-surface traction. In one embodiment of the outsole, there is no channeling and no trenching of the golf course turf. There is less damage to the golf course for a given amount of traction.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A golf shoe comprising:
 an upper,   an outsole,   and a midsole connected to the upper and outsole, the upper, midsole, and outsole each having forefoot, mid-foot, and rear-foot regions and lateral and medial sides; and   the outsole comprising a plurality of tile pieces comprise a first protruding traction member, an opposing second protruding traction member; and a non-protruding, level base segment disposed between the first and second traction members.   
     
     
         2 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the first traction members have a greater hardness than and the second traction members, the level base segments provide a flex point in between the two traction members. 
     
     
         3 . The golf shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the flex points are oriented in various directions across the outsole. 
     
     
         4 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the first traction members have sidewalls with sloping surfaces and a triangular-shaped, non-recessed top surface that forms a ground contacting surface. 
     
     
         5 . The golf shoe of  claim 4 , wherein the second traction members have sidewalls with sloping surfaces and a larger triangular-shaped, non-recessed top surface than the first traction members. 
     
     
         6 . The golf shoe of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second traction members have substantially the same heights. 
     
     
         7 . The golf shoe of  claim 5 , wherein the shoe comprises a first zone of tiles containing protruding traction members extending along the anterior portion of the forefoot region; a second zone of tiles containing protruding traction members extending along the periphery of the forefoot region; and a third zone of tiles containing protruding traction members extending along the opposing periphery of the forefoot region, the second and third zones being adjacent to the first zone and the traction members in the first, second, and third zones having different dimensions. 
     
     
         8 . The golf shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the triangular-shaped, non-recessed top surface of the traction members in each of the zones form a ground contacting surface, and wherein the total ground contact surface area is in the range of about 10 to about 70% based on total surface area of the tile. 
     
     
         9 . The golf shoe of  claim 5 , wherein the shoe comprises a zone of tiles containing protruding traction members extending along the mid-foot region. 
     
     
         10 . The golf shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the triangular-shaped, non-recessed top surface of the traction members in the zone of the mid-foot region form a ground contacting surface, and wherein the total ground contact surface area is in the range of about 5 to about 50% based on total surface area of the tile. 
     
     
         11 . The golf shoe of  claim 5 , wherein the shoe comprises a first zone of tiles containing protruding traction members extending along the posterior portion of the rear-foot region; a second zone of tiles containing protruding traction members extending along the periphery of the rear-foot region; and a third zone of tiles containing protruding traction members extending along the opposing periphery of the rear-foot region, the second and third zones being adjacent to the first zone and the traction members in the first, second, and third zones having different dimensions. 
     
     
         12 . The golf shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the triangular-shaped, non-recessed top surface of the traction members in each of the zones have form a ground contacting surface, and wherein the total ground contact surface area is in the range of about 10 to about 70% based on total surface area of the tile. 
     
     
         13 . The golf shoe of  claim 5 , wherein the outsole further comprises a first set of spiral pathways, each spiral pathway having a point of origin with a plurality of spiral segments radiating from that point, and wherein each segment has a different degree of curvature and contains sub-segments;
 a second set of spiral pathways, each spiral pathway having a point of origin with a plurality of spiral segments radiating from that point, and wherein each segment has a different degree of curvature and contains sub-segments; and   the first set of spiral pathways being normal and the second set of spiral pathways being an inverse of the first set of spiral pathways, so that when the spiral pathways are superposed over each other, the sub-segments of spiral segments from the first set and the sub-segments of spiral segments from the second set form the four-sided tile pieces on the surface of the outsole.   
     
     
         14 . The golf shoe of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second traction members each comprise a thermoplastic polyurethane composition. 
     
     
         15 . The golf shoe of  claim 5 , wherein the level base segment disposed between the first and second traction members comprises an ethylene vinyl acetate composition.