Tread pattern combination for non-slip shoes

Abstract

The invention involves a tread system for shoes More specifically, the present invention is a tread combination that is particularly suited to work environments where the workers are required to use a walking gait upon slick floor surfaces, some of which may be partially covered with liquids. The system includes an outsole having a heel strike tread having a pointed leading edge with sipes for squeegeeing and channeling liquid away from the center portion of the tread to prevent forward slippage. The mid and forefoot portions of the outsole are provided with cross siped treads which reduce or prevent sideways slippage of the forefoot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A slip-resistant tread combination for a shoe outsole comprising:
 a first tread member positioned on the heel area of a shoe outsole, said first, tread member having a first base portion extending outwardly from a bottom surface of said outsole, a plurality of grouser bars integrally formed to a lowermost surface of said first base portion of said first tread member, said grouser bars being parallel and separated from each other by first siping grooves;   a second tread member positioned in a forefoot portion of said shoe outsole, said second tread member having a second base portion integrally formed to said shoe outsole, a plurality of cleat members integrally formed to said second base portion, said cleat member separated by second siping grooves, said second siping grooves forming a cross pattern when viewed from the bottom of said outsole.   
     
     
         2 . The slip-resistant tread combination of  claim 1  wherein said first siping grooves are oriented to extend orthogonally with respect to a longitudinal axis of said outsole. 
     
     
         3 . The slip-resistant tread combination of  claim 1  wherein said second siping grooves are oriented at about a forty-five degree angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of said outsole. 
     
     
         4 . The slip-resistant tread combination of  claim 2  wherein each said first tread member includes two said first siping grooves. 
     
     
         5 . The slip-resistant tread combination of  claim 2  wherein each said first tread member includes three said first siping grooves. 
     
     
         2 .  6 . The slip-resistant tread combination of  claim 2  wherein each said first tread member is a polygon having a front point of said polygon positioned toward a front portion of said outsole and rear point positioned toward a rear portion of said out sole. 
     
     
         7 . The slip-resistant tread combination of claim  6  wherein said front point and said rear point are aligned and parallel with said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The slip-resistant tread combination of claim  6  wherein said polygon is a square. 
     
     
         9 . The sip-resistant tread combination of  claim 2  wherein each said first tread member is constructed from the same material as said outsole. 
     
     
         10 . The slip-resistant tread combination of  claim 3  wherein each said second tread member is a polygon having a front point of said polygon positioned toward a front portion of said outsole and rear point positioned toward a rear portion of said outsole. 
     
     
         11 . The slip-resistant tread combination of  claim 10  wherein said tread member includes four substantially equally sized cleats. 
     
     
         12 . The slip-resistant tread combination of  claim 1  wherein said first tread member has a larger surface area than said second tread member, but has the same overall height as said second tread member. 
     
     
         13 . The slip-resistant tread combination of  claim 1  wherein said heel area is a heel strike area, said heel strike area being about one third of the rear portion of said heel area of said outsole. 
     
     
         14 . The slip-resistant tread combination of  claim 1  wherein said heel area is a heel strike area, said heel strike area being about one half of the rear portion of said heel area of said outsole. 
     
     
         15 . The slip-resistant tread combination of  claim 12  wherein said first tread members are separated by channels that extend to the lowermost surface of said outsole, said channels being substantially one eighth of an inch in width. 
     
     
         16 . The slip-resistant tread combination of  claim 12  wherein said first tread height is no more than one eighth of an inch tall. 
     
     
         17 . The slip-resistant tread combination of  claim 16  wherein said siping is sixty-fourth of an inch wide and about half the height of said first and said second treads in depth. 
     
     
         18 . The slip-resistant tread combination of  claim 17  wherein said siping extends completely across said first and said second treads, whereby fluid is channeled away from the contact surface of the tread and the floor surface. 
     
     
         19 . The slip-resistant tread combination of  claim 18  wherein said contact surface is planar.