Footwear traction assist

Abstract

Winter boots and shoes can be equipped with a removable traction attachment that facilitates easy non-slip motion on ice, snow, dirt, gravel, etc. The traction attachment can include an elastomeric panel fitting the sole of the boot or shoe, an integral front strap system fitting over the toe of the boot, and an integral rear strap system fitting snugly on the heel of the boot. The panel and strap systems have controlled elasticity, so that a given size attachment can fit a range of different size boots or shoes. Replaceable metal cleats are carried on downwardly protruding sections of the elastomeric panel, to provide traction assistance.

What is claimed  
     
         1 . A traction attachment for footwear, wherein the footwear comprises a sole that includes a toe section, a heel section, and an arch section connecting said toe and heel sections; said traction attachment comprising: 
 a flexible panel adapted to fit against the footwear sole; a front strap means carried by said panel for fitting around a toe of the footwear; and a rear strap means carried by said panel for fitting around a heel of the footwear;    said flexible panel comprising a frontal area, heel area, and shank area connecting the frontal area and heel area;    said shank area having a lesser vertical thickness than the frontal area or the heel area, so that the shank area is stretchable while the frontal and heel areas are substantially non-stretchable heel areas are substantially non-stretchable, whereby the spacing between the front strap means and the rear strap means can be varied to accommodate a range of different footwear sizes.    
     
     
         2 . The traction attachment of  claim 1 , wherein said panel has a longitudinal axis; the frontal area, heel area and shank area of said panel having differing width dimensions measured transverse to the panel longitudinal axis; the width dimension of said shank area being substantially less than the width dimension of said heel area, whereby said shank area is stretchable along the panel longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         3 . The traction attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the width dimension of said shank area is approximately thirty-five millimeters.  
     
     
         4 . The traction attachment of  claim 3 , wherein said shank area has a thickness of approximately 0.16 inch.  
     
     
         5 . The traction attachment of  claim 2 , wherein said shank area has concave side edges that merge smoothly with transverse edges of the frontal area and heel area.  
     
     
         6 . The traction attachment of  claim 1 , wherein said panel is a dual density multi-layer assembly that includes a single upper lamination, and two separate lower laminations; one of the lower laminations being secured to the frontal area of the upper lamination, the other lower lamination being secured to the heel area of the upper lamination: 
 said upper lamination forming the shank area of the flexible panel.    
     
     
         7 . The traction attacahment of  claim 6 , wherein said upper lamination is formed of an elastomeric material having a relatively low durometer, and each said lower lamination is formed of an elastomeric material having a relatively high durometer.  
     
     
         8 . The traction attachment of  claim 7 , wherein the durometer of said upper lamination is approximately thirty-seven, and the durometer of each said lower lamination is approximately seventy.  
     
     
         9 . The traction attachment of  claim 1 , and further comprising plural replaceable cleats extending downwardly from said flexible panel at spaced points along the panel peripheral edge; said plural cleats including five cleats located on the frontal area of the panel, and four cleats located on the heel area of the panel; the shank area of said panel being devoid of cleats.  
     
     
         10 . The traction attachment of  claim 9 , and further comprising plural drainage grooves formed in the peripheral edge of said flexible panel; said drainage grooves being located between the cleats in the frontal area and heel area of the panel.  
     
     
         11 . The traction attachment of  claim 10 , wherein each drainage groove has a configuration in the plan view.  
     
     
         12 . A traction attachment for footwear, wherein the footwear comprises a sole that includes a toe section, a heel section, and an arch section connecting said toe and heel sections; said traction attachment comprising: 
 a flexible panel adapted to have a tension fit against the footwear sole, a front strap means carried by said panel for fitting around a toe of the footwear, and a rear strap means carried by said panel for fitting around a heel of the footwear;    said flexible panel comprising a frontal area, heel area, and shank area connecting the frontal area and heel area;    said shank area having a lesser vertical thickness than the frontal area or the heel area, so that the shank area is stretchable while the frontal and heel areas are substantially non-stretchable, whereby the spacing between the front strap means and the rear strap means can be varied to accommodate a range of different footwear sizes;    said panel being a multi-layer assembly that includes a single upper lamination, and two separate lower laminations; one of the lower laminations being secured to the frontal area of the upper lamination, the other lower lamination being secured to the heel area of the upper lamination;    said upper lamination forming the shank area of the flexible panel;    said upper lamination being formed of an elastomeric material having a relatively low durometer, and each said lower lamination being formed of an elastomeric material having a relatively high durometer;    each lower lamination having plural protruding islands located at spaced points along the panel peripheral edge; a threaded socket embedded in each said island; and an externally threaded cleat, replaceably secured within each said socket.    
     
     
         13 . The traction attachment of  claim 12 , wherein said upper lamination has plural openings aligned with the aforementioned threaded sockets; said lower laminations having protuberances extending into said openings, whereby the elastomeric material surrounding each socket is reinforced against tearing or rupture.  
     
     
         14 . The traction attachment of  claim 13 , and further comprising plural drainage grooves formed in the peripheral edge of said flexible panel.  
     
     
         15 . The traction attachment of  claim 14 , wherein each drainage groove has a V configuration in the plan view.  
     
     
         16 . The traction attachment of  claim 12 , wherein said rear strap means is integral with the heel area of said flexible panel, said front strap means and said rear strap means being individually stretchable; the shank area of said flexible panel being stretchable independently of the front strap means or the rear strap means.  
     
     
         17 . A traction attachment for footwear, wherein the footwear comprises a sole that includes a toe section, a heel section, and an arch section connecting said toe and heel sections; said traction attachment comprising: 
 a flexible elastomeric panel adapted to fit against the footwear sole, a front strap means carried by said panel for fitting around a toe of the footwear, and a rear strap means carried by said panel for fitting around a heel of the footwear;    said flexible panel comprising a frontal area, heel area, and shank area connecting the frontal area and heel area;    said flexible panel having plural downwardly protruding islands located in the frontal area and heel area of the panel; a threaded socket embedded in each said island; an externally threaded cleat having a replaceable screw fit in each socket; and    plural drainage grooves formed in the peripheral edges of said frontal area and said heel area.    
     
     
         18 . The traction attachment of  claim 17 , wherein said drainage grooves are interspersed with the cleats so that each drainage groove is located between two cleats.  
     
     
         19 . The traction attachment of  claim 18 , wherein each drainage groove has a V configuration in the plan view.  
     
     
         20 . The traction attachment of  claim 17 , wherein each said cleat has an annular sharpened edge  60 , designed to bite into icy terrain.