Search

EP-4736695-A1 - GOLF SHOE WITH TRACTION ELEMENTS

EP4736695A1EP 4736695 A1EP4736695 A1EP 4736695A1EP-4736695-A1

Abstract

A golf shoe with a plurality of traction elements positioned around a central forefoot region and a central rearfoot region of the outsole of the golf shoe. The plurality of traction elements comprises: (i) a first set of traction elements arranged in a first outsole zone along a perimeter or edge of a medial or lateral forefoot region of the golf shoe, (ii) a second set of traction elements arranged in a second outsole zone along a perimeter or edge of a lateral or medial rearfoot region of the golf shoe, and (iii) a third set of traction elements arranged along a third outsole zone extending diagonally across a midfoot region of the golf shoe between the medial or lateral forefoot region and the lateral or medial rearfoot region. The third outsole zone includes a plurality of tracks extending across the third outsole zone.

Inventors

  • BIDAL, JEAN-MARIE

Assignees

  • Acushnet Company

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20251020

Claims (15)

  1. A golf shoe, comprising: an upper; a sole assembly attached to the upper, the sole assembly comprising a midsole and an outsole; and a plurality of traction elements positioned around a central forefoot region and a central rearfoot region of the outsole, wherein the plurality of traction elements comprises: (i) a first set of traction elements arranged in a first outsole zone along a perimeter or edge of a medial or lateral forefoot region of the golf shoe, (ii) a second set of traction elements arranged in a second outsole zone along a perimeter or edge of a lateral or medial rearfoot region of the golf shoe, and (iii) a third set of traction elements arranged along a third outsole zone extending diagonally across a midfoot region of the golf shoe between the medial or lateral forefoot region of the golf shoe and the lateral or medial rearfoot region of the golf shoe, wherein the third outsole zone includes a plurality of tracks extending across the third outsole zone in a plurality of different directions, wherein the third set of traction elements includes a first set of directionally aligned traction elements with sidewalls oriented in a same direction and a second set of directionally aligned traction elements with sidewalls oriented in a different direction than the sidewalls of the first set of directionally aligned traction elements.
  2. The golf shoe of claim 1, wherein the third outsole zone is configured to extend between the first set of traction elements and the second set of traction elements.
  3. The golf shoe of claim 1 or 2, wherein the third outsole zone is configured to extend around or along the central forefoot region and the central rearfoot region of the outsole.
  4. The golf shoe of any of claims 1-3, wherein the central forefoot region or the central rearfoot region is configured as a longitudinal flex groove.
  5. The golf shoe of any of claims 1-4, wherein the third outsole zone is configured to extend from the medial or lateral forefoot region to a toe region or a forefoot/anterior end of the outsole.
  6. The golf shoe of any of claims 1-5, wherein the third outsole zone is configured to extend from the lateral or medial rearfoot region to a heel region or a rearfoot/posterior end of the outsole.
  7. The golf shoe of any of claims 1-6, wherein the third outsole zone is separated from the first outsole zone and the second outsole zone by one or more gaps.
  8. The golf shoe of any of claims 1-7, wherein the third outsole zone comprises a plurality of apertures or windows formed across the third outsole zone to reduce a weight of the outsole and to enhance a flexibility of the outsole.
  9. The golf shoe of any of claims 1-8, wherein the sidewalls of the first set of directionally aligned traction elements are oriented in a first direction to enhance traction in said first direction, and wherein the sidewalls of the second set of directionally aligned traction elements are oriented in a second direction to enhance traction in said second direction, wherein said second direction is angularly offset from said first direction.
  10. The golf shoe of any of claims 1-9, wherein the sidewalls of the first set of directionally aligned traction elements are oriented perpendicular to a first set of force vectors associated with a first type of stance, swing, or golf shot, and wherein the sidewalls of the second set of directionally aligned traction elements are oriented perpendicular to a second set of force vectors associated with a second type of stance, swing, or golf shot that is different than the first type of stance, swing, or golf shot.
  11. The golf shoe of any of claims 1-10, wherein the first set of directionally aligned traction elements is arranged along a first track, and wherein the second set of directionally aligned traction elements is arranged along a second track.
  12. The golf shoe of any of claims 1-11, wherein the traction elements in the third set of traction elements have sidewalls that progressively change in orientation across the plurality of tracks.
  13. The golf shoe of any of claims 1-12, wherein the traction elements in the third set of traction elements are arranged along different tracks according to an orientation of the sidewalls of the traction elements in the third set of traction elements.
  14. The golf shoe of any of claims 1-13, wherein the third set of traction elements comprises one or more adaptive traction elements with a half-moon shape or a fanged profile.
  15. The golf shoe of any of claims 1-14, wherein the first set of traction elements and the second set of traction elements comprise a plurality of directional traction elements configured to provide traction in a medial-lateral direction or in a lateral-medial direction.

Description

BACKGROUND The sport of golf can involve a variety of actions that a subject (e.g., a golfer) can perform, such as swinging a golf club, walking a golf course, and/or crouching down to line up a putt. The equipment used to play golf can affect how well a golfer performs golf-related actions or movements. Golf shoes are one example of a piece of equipment that can affect performance. When a golfer executes a golf-related action, there are a number of forces that can be exerted on the sole assembly of the golf shoe and/or the ground surface under the golf shoe. In some cases, the forces exerted during the golf-related action can cause the shoe to move relative to the ground surface in a manner that is unintentional or undesired, which can negatively impact performance. To minimize undesired or unintentional movements of the shoe, some golf shoes may utilize traction elements that physically or mechanically engage with the ground surface. SUMMARY Recognized herein are various shortcomings and disadvantages of conventional shoes and traction element designs and configurations for golf shoes. Many conventional shoes utilize traction elements that are designed or configured to minimize slip and fall scenarios (e.g., by maximizing coefficients of friction between the traction elements and various off course ground surfaces). However, conventional traction element designs and configurations that attempt to maximize coefficients of friction solely to mitigate slips and falls do not always provide the optimal set of traction properties desired or needed to elevate the golf games of both casual and dedicated golfers alike. The present disclosure addresses the abovementioned shortcomings of shoes with conventional traction element designs and configurations by providing various embodiments of golf shoes with traction elements that optimize shoe traction stiffness for on course ground surfaces. The golf shoes of the present disclosure may utilize traction elements that are (1) optimally sized and shaped and/or (2) collectively arranged in an optimal layout on the outsole of the shoe in order to minimize the amount of movement of the golf shoe relative to the ground surface during a golf-related action or movement. The size, shape, and/or arrangement (e.g., position and/or orientation) of each of the traction elements may be optimized based on (i) the biomechanical characteristics of a subject's golf swing and/or (ii) the anatomical or physiological characteristics of the subject's body. The traction elements may be individually and collectively configured to provide an optimal traction stiffness to different selective regions of the shoe, which can minimize the movement of the shoe relative to an on course ground surface during a golf-related action or movement, and ultimately help to maximize (i) consistency, e.g., by producing tighter ball dispersions and/or (ii) performance, e.g., by enabling longer carry distances. The traction element designs and configurations described herein may provide numerous benefits in addition to maximizing consistency and performance. For instance, the traction elements may be designed and configured to preserve and minimize damage to on course surfaces. As described in greater detail below, the size and/or shape of the individual traction elements may be optimized to preserve a quality or characteristic of an on course surface across a greater number of golf-related actions or movements, and over a longer period of time compared to traditional or conventional golf shoe traction elements. The quality or characteristic may relate to a ball roll distance for a golf ball traversing the on course surface, or a smoothness or a roughness of the on course surface. Preserving the on course surfaces may help to minimize the maintenance needed to keep the state of the on course surface consistent over time and as more rounds are played. The traction elements of the present disclosure may reduce the need for routine maintenance, which can be both time and labor intensive, and can ensure that the conditions of the on course surfaces remain within an acceptable tolerance or threshold during, between, or after a golf round involving one or more golf-related movements, or actions involving a physical or mechanical interaction between the on course surfaces and the presently disclosed traction elements. In a related aspect, the present disclosure provides various embodiments of golf shoes with adaptive traction elements that can be designed or configured for both on course and off course applications. Unlike the traction elements of traditional golf shoes, which are generally uncomfortable or impractical for use off course, the adaptive traction element designs and configurations referenced herein may provide a flexible solution for both on course and off course traction by utilizing a traction element that can adapt or deform to provide (1) a first horizontal and/or vertical cross-sectional area or dime