Footwear tread having cleats with sipes

Abstract

A tread system for footwear. The tread combination is designed to reduce accidents in an indoor or outdoor environment that includes slip and fall causing materials, such as surfaces containing snow, water, or combinations thereof. The system includes an outsole having tread members configured for squeegeeing and channeling liquid away from the center portion of the tread to prevent forward slippage. Accordingly, the treading is designed to displace a liquid on a surface so that other portions of the tread can grip directly to that surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A slip-resistant tread for a shoe outsole comprising:
 a plurality of cleat members configured to maintain traction when engaging a surface covered with snow or water, said plurality of cleat members positioned on at least a portion of a heel area of a shoe outsole and at least a portion of a forefoot portion of said shoe outsole;   each of said plurality of cleat members comprising a plurality of individual segments separated by a siping groove and configured to move a liquid in a direction away from a center area of said cleat member.   
     
     
         2 . The slip-resistant tread for a shoe outsole according to  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of individual segments is substantially identical in shape and size. 
     
     
         3 . The slip-resistant tread for a shoe outsole according to  claim 1  wherein said plurality of cleat members further comprise at least three individual and consecutively (serially) arranged segments, each said individual segment being separated from an adjacent said individual segment by at least one siping groove. 
     
     
         4 . The slip-resistant tread for a shoe outsole according to  claim 3  wherein said at least one siping groove is sized to extend from one sided portion of said cleat member to a second, opposing side portion of said cleat member. 
     
     
         5 . The slip-resistant tread for a shoe outsole according to  claim 1  further including a plurality of channels. 
     
     
         6 . The slip-resistant tread for a shoe outsole according to  claim 1  wherein said plurality of cleat members are arranged in a generally parallel orientation relative to a longitudinal axis associated with an outsole of a shoe. 
     
     
         7 . The slip-resistant tread for a shoe outsole according to  claim 1  wherein said plurality of cleat members further comprise at least five individual, like-shaped and consecutively arranged segments, and at least four siping grooves. 
     
     
         8 . The slip-resistant tread combination of  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of cleat members is constructed from the same material as said outsole. 
     
     
         9 . The slip-resistant tread combination of  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of cleat members is integrally formed to the outsole. 
     
     
         10 . A shoe having an outsole with a slip-resistant tread comprising:
 an outsole comprising a plurality of tread members configured to maintain traction when engaging a surface covered with snow or water, said plurality of tread members positioned on at least a portion of a heel area of said outsole and at least a portion of a forefoot portion of said outsole; each of said plurality of tread members comprising a plurality of individual cleat segments configured for providing interaction with a surface or moving a liquid away from said contact surface of said tread member or said surface; and   an upper portion configured for covering at least a portion of a foot.   
     
     
         11 . The shoe having an outsole with a slip-resistant tread according to  claim 10  wherein each of said plurality of individual cleat segments are substantially identical in shape and size. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe having an outsole with a slip-resistant tread according to  claim 10  wherein each of said plurality of tread members comprises at least three individual and consecutively arranged cleat segments, each said individual cleat segment being separated from an adjacent said individual cleat segment by at least one siping groove. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe having an outsole with a slip-resistant tread according to  claim 12  wherein said at least one siping groove is sized to extend from one sided portion of said tread member to a second, opposing side portion of said tread member. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe having an outsole with a slip-resistant tread according to  claim 10  further including a plurality of channels. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe having an outsole with a slip-resistant tread according to  claim 10  wherein each of said plurality of tread members are arranged in a generally parallel orientation relative to a longitudinal axis associated with an outsole of a shoe. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe having an outsole with a slip-resistant tread according to  claim 10  wherein each of said plurality of tread members further comprises at least five individual, like-shaped and consecutively arranged cleat segments, and at least four siping grooves. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe having an outsole with a slip-resistant tread according to  claim 10  wherein said siping grooves are configured to move a liquid in a direction away from a center area of said cleat member. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe having an outsole with a slip-resistant tread according to  claim 10  wherein each of said plurality of tread members is constructed from the same material as said outsole.