Golf shoe with traction elements

Abstract

A golf shoe comprising an upper and a sole assembly comprising a midsole and an outsole, wherein the outsole comprises a plurality of tracks circumscribing a central region of the outsole, the plurality of tracks comprising a first track extending along a perimeter or edge of the outsole and a second track extending alongside the first track, and a plurality of traction elements comprising: (i) a first set of traction elements arranged along the first track, and (ii) a second set of traction elements arranged along the second track, wherein the first and second sets of traction elements each comprise (i) a plurality of half-moon shaped traction elements arranged along a medial side and a lateral side of the first and second tracks and (ii) a plurality of frustum-shaped traction elements arranged along an anterior side and a posterior side of the first and second tracks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf shoe, comprising:
 an upper;   a sole assembly connected to the upper, wherein the sole assembly comprises a midsole and an outsole, wherein the outsole comprises a plurality of tracks circumscribing a central region of the outsole, the plurality of tracks comprising a first track extending along a perimeter or edge of the outsole and a second track extending alongside the first track; and   a plurality of traction elements comprising:   (i) a first set of traction elements arranged along the first track, and   (ii) a second set of traction elements arranged along the second track,   wherein the first and second sets of traction elements each comprise (i) a plurality of half-moon shaped traction elements arranged along a medial side and a lateral side of the first and second tracks and (ii) a plurality of frustum-shaped traction elements arranged along an anterior side and a posterior side of the first and second tracks.   
     
     
         2 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of traction elements and the second set of traction elements each comprise a series of spaced apart traction elements. 
     
     
         3 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sets of traction elements are staggered relative to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tracks are configured to extend continuously around the central region of the outsole. 
     
     
         5 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the central region of the outsole does not include any traction elements. 
     
     
         6 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of half-moon shaped traction elements comprises a substantially flat surface extending vertically downwards at a 90-degree angle relative to a bottom of the outsole. 
     
     
         7 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of half-moon shaped traction elements comprises an apex region and a curved surface extending from a bottom of the outsole towards the apex region. 
     
     
         8 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of half-moon shaped traction elements comprises a pointed end that is configured to penetrate a first type of ground surface and flatten towards a bottom of the outsole when the golf shoe is worn on a second type of ground surface that is harder than the first type of ground surface. 
     
     
         9 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of half-moon shaped traction elements comprises one or more adaptive traction elements. 
     
     
         10 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of half-moon shaped traction elements have a depth to height ratio of 5:3. 
     
     
         11 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of frustum-shaped traction elements have a taper ranging from ⅙ to ⅔. 
     
     
         12 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein a size and a shape of the plurality of half-moon shaped traction elements changes or varies along the medial or lateral side of the first or second track. 
     
     
         13 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein an orientation and a directional bias of the plurality of half-moon shaped traction elements changes or varies along the medial or lateral side of the first or second track. 
     
     
         14 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the anterior side of the first or second track has a greater number of traction elements per unit area than the medial or lateral side of the first or second track. 
     
     
         15 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the posterior side of the first or second track has a greater number of traction elements per unit area than the medial or lateral side of the first or second track. 
     
     
         16 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of half-moon shaped traction elements and the plurality of frustum-shaped traction elements comprise thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         17 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of rubber inserts provided along the anterior side and the posterior side of the first or second track. 
     
     
         18 . The golf shoe of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of rubber inserts comprise a different material than the plurality of half-moon shaped traction elements and the plurality of frustum-shaped traction elements. 
     
     
         19 . The golf shoe of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of rubber inserts are sized and shaped differently than the plurality of half-moon shaped traction elements and the plurality of frustum-shaped traction elements. 
     
     
         20 . The golf shoe of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of rubber inserts are wider than the plurality of frustum-shaped traction elements.