Tread Wear Indicators For Outsoles Of Footwear

Abstract

A polymeric outsole for an article of footwear comprises: an outsole body and a tread pattern that comprises a plurality of cleats and channels between the cleats; and one or more tread ribs projecting from the outsole body. The tread ribs project a first distance from the outsole body that is shorter than a second distance that the cleats of the tread pattern project from the outsole body. The tread ribs are effective as wear indicators to indicate remaining useful life of the cleats. During a first duration of wear, the tread ribs are not in contact with a ground surface while the cleats are in contact with the ground surface, and during a second duration of wear, both the tread ribs and the cleats are in contact with the ground surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A polymeric outsole for an article of footwear comprising:
 an outsole body and a tread pattern that comprises a plurality of projecting features and channels between the projecting features; and   a first tread rib adjacent to a first projecting feature, the first tread rib protruding a first distance from the outsole body that is shorter than a second distance that the first projecting feature protrudes from the outsole body.   
     
     
         2 . The polymeric outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the projecting features comprise one or more of: a toe, a heel strike, and a cleat. 
     
     
         3 . The polymeric outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the first tread rib is located in a first channel of the outsole body. 
     
     
         4 . The polymeric outsole of  claim 3 , wherein the first tread rib is integral to the first channel. 
     
     
         5 . The polymeric outsole of  claim 3 , wherein the first tread rib is affixed in the first channel. 
     
     
         6 . The polymeric outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the first tread rib is substantially perpendicular to the first projecting feature. 
     
     
         7 . The polymeric outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the first tread rib is connected to a side surface of the first projecting feature. 
     
     
         8 . The polymeric outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the first tread rib is effective as a wear indicator to indicate remaining useful life of the first projecting feature whereby during a first duration of wear, the first tread rib is not in contact with a ground surface while the first projecting feature is in contact with the ground surface, and during a second duration of wear, both the first tread rib and the first projecting feature are in contact with the ground surface. 
     
     
         9 . The polymeric outsole of  claim 8 , wherein the first distance that the first tread rib protrudes from the outsole body is in a range of from about 10 to about 90% of the second distance that the first projecting feature protrudes from the outsole body whereby the remaining useful life of the first projecting feature during the second duration is from about 90% to about 10%. 
     
     
         10 . The polymeric outsole of  claim 9 , wherein the first distance that the first tread rib protrudes from the outsole body is about 50% of the second distance that the first projecting feature protrudes from the outsole body whereby the remaining useful life of the first projecting feature during the second duration is about 50%. 
     
     
         11 . The polymeric outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the outsole comprises a thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of: natural rubber, styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) block co-polymer, thermoplastic polyurethane, and polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         12 . The polymeric outsole of  claim 1  further comprising a second tread rib adjacent to a second projecting feature, wherein the first tread rib is located in a channel of a forefoot area of the outsole and the second tread rib located in a channel in a heel area of the outsole. 
     
     
         13 . The polymeric outsole of  claim 1 , the first tread rib comprises an aspect ratio in the range of about 1.5:1 to 10:1. 
     
     
         14 . A polymeric outsole for an article of footwear comprising:
 an outsole body and a tread pattern that comprises a plurality of projecting features and channels between the projecting features; and   a first tread rib adjacent to a first projecting feature selected from the group consisting of: a toe, a heel strike, and a cleat; the first tread rib being in a first channel of the outsole body and protruding a first distance from the outsole body that is shorter than a second distance that the first projecting feature protrudes from the outsole body;   wherein the first tread rib is effective as a wear indicator to indicate remaining useful life of the first projecting feature whereby during a first duration of wear, the first tread rib is not in contact with a ground surface while the first projecting feature is in contact with the ground surface, and during a second duration of wear, both the first tread rib and the first projecting feature are in contact with the ground surface.   
     
     
         15 . The polymeric outsole of  claim 14 , wherein the first distance that the first tread rib protrudes from the outsole body is about 50% of the second distance that the first projecting feature protrudes from the outsole body whereby the remaining useful life of the first projecting feature during the second duration is about 50%. 
     
     
         16 . The polymeric outsole of  claim 14 , wherein the outsole comprises a thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) block co-polymer, thermoplastic polyurethane, and polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         17 . The polymeric outsole of  claim 14  further comprising a second tread rib adjacent to a second projecting feature, wherein the first tread rib is substantially perpendicular to a cleat and is integral to a channel of a forefoot area of the outsole and the second tread rib is substantially perpendicular to a cleat and is integral to a channel in a heel area of the outsole. 
     
     
         18 . An article of footwear comprising:
 the polymeric outsole according to  claim 1 ; and   an upper affixed to the outsole.   
     
     
         19 . A method of making an article of footwear comprising:
 obtaining the polymeric outsole according to  claim 1 ; and   affixing an upper to the polymeric outsole.   
     
     
         20 . A method of providing tread wear indication, the method comprising:
 obtaining an article of footwear according to  claim 18 ;   wearing the article of footwear; and   observing the tread rib relative to the projecting features for an indication of remaining useful life transport of the projecting features.