Golf shoe with traction elements

Abstract

A golf shoe comprising an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper. The sole assembly comprises an outsole comprising a plurality of traction elements and a plurality of tracks circumscribing a central region of the outsole. The plurality of tracks comprises a first track extending along a perimeter or edge of the outsole and a second track extending alongside the first track. The plurality of traction elements comprises a first set of traction elements positioned along the first track, a second set of traction elements positioned along the second track, and a third set of traction elements disposed within a forefoot portion and a rearfoot portion of the central region of the outsole. The first or second set of traction elements comprises a plurality of adaptive traction elements and a plurality of frustum-shaped traction elements. The third set of traction elements comprises a plurality of conical traction elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf shoe, comprising:
 an upper;   a sole assembly attached to the upper, the sole assembly comprising a midsole and an outsole comprising 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 positioned around the central region of the outsole and along the first track,   (ii) a second set of traction elements positioned along the second track; and   (iii) a third set of traction elements disposed within a forefoot portion and a rearfoot portion of the central region of the outsole,   wherein the first set of traction elements and the second set of traction elements comprise (i) a plurality of adaptive traction elements positioned along a periphery of a medial side and a lateral side of the outsole and (ii) a plurality of frustum-shaped traction elements positioned along an anterior end and a posterior end of the outsole, wherein the plurality of adaptive traction elements comprises a first material comprising a rigid or semi-rigid thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material,   wherein the third set of traction elements comprises a plurality of conical traction elements comprising a second material comprising a deformable or elastic rubber material.   
     
     
         2 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conical traction elements have a different geometry than the plurality of frustum-shaped traction elements. 
     
     
         3 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein an orientation, a directional bias, or a directionality of the plurality of adaptive traction elements changes or varies between the anterior end and the posterior end of the outsole. 
     
     
         4 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein a size, a shape, or a profile of the plurality of adaptive traction elements changes or varies along the medial side or the lateral side of the outsole. 
     
     
         5 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of adaptive traction elements comprise one or more adaptive traction elements with a ground contacting surface extending vertically downwards at a 90-degree angle relative to a bottom of the outsole. 
     
     
         6 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the first or second set of traction elements comprises a series of spaced apart traction elements that are staggered relative to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the third set of traction elements comprises a series of spaced apart traction elements that are staggered relative to each other. 
     
     
         8 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the first or second set of traction elements includes a first subset of traction elements arranged along an anterior or posterior end of the outsole and a second subset of traction elements arranged along the medial side or the lateral side of the outsole, wherein the first subset of traction elements includes a greater number of traction elements per unit area than the second subset of traction elements. 
     
     
         9 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the third set of traction elements are evenly distributed across the forefoot portion or the rearfoot portion of the central region of the outsole. 
     
     
         10 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the third set of traction elements comprises a first set of conical traction elements and a second set of conical traction elements. 
     
     
         11 . The golf shoe of  claim 10 , wherein the first set of conical traction elements is provided within the forefoot portion of the central region of the outsole. 
     
     
         12 . The golf shoe of  claim 10 , wherein the second set of conical traction elements is provided within the rearfoot portion of the central region of the outsole. 
     
     
         13 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of frustum-shaped traction elements comprise one or more rubber inserts. 
     
     
         14 . The golf shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more rubber inserts comprise a different material than the plurality of adaptive traction elements. 
     
     
         15 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the first material is harder and more rigid than the second material. 
     
     
         16 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , further comprising an additional set of traction elements positioned between the plurality of frustum-shaped traction elements and the plurality of conical traction elements. 
     
     
         17 . The golf shoe of  claim 16 , wherein the additional set of traction elements comprises a different material than the plurality of conical traction elements and the plurality of frustum-shaped traction elements. 
     
     
         18 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the outsole includes one or more break regions extending across the outsole through the first set of traction elements or the second set of traction elements to enhance a flexibility of the outsole. 
     
     
         19 . The golf shoe of  claim 18 , wherein the outsole includes one or more flex regions extending through the third set of traction elements to enhance the flexibility of the outsole. 
     
     
         20 . The golf shoe of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more break regions are aligned with or coincide with the one or more flex regions.