Traction elements for athletic shoes and methods of manufacture thereof

Abstract

Various embodiments for a traction element used with athletic shoes having a stud body with a metal insert that extends axially from the stud body and methods for manufacturing such traction elements are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing a traction element comprising:
 casting a stud body, the stud body having a distal head portion and a proximal end portion;   coring out the proximal end portion of the stud body to form an interior cavity;   driving a metal insert into the interior cavity of the stud body such that the metal insert cuts into an interior surface of the interior cavity to securely engage the metal insert with the stud body; and   inserting a stabilizer disc into the interior cavity of the stud body such that an aperture formed by the stabilizer disc engages the metal insert.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal insert comprises a distal head portion, a proximal threaded portion and a plurality of drive grippers extending radially outward from the proximal threaded portion adjacent the distal head portion. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein driving the metal insert into the interior cavity comprises engaging the plurality of drive grippers with a driving tool and rotating the metal insert into the interior cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of drive grippers comprises a plurality of radially extending arms. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the distal head portion forms a standard or reverse thread head configured for cutting into a surface of the stud body when engaging the metal insert with the stud body. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer disc is inserted into the proximal end of the interior cavity such that an exterior surface of the stabilizer disc contacts a surface of the interior cavity in a press-fit engagement. 
     
     
         7 . A traction element comprising;
 a cored out stud body defining an interior cavity, a distal head portion, and a proximal end portion, the stud body configured to be attached to a sole of a shoe; and   the interior cavity of the cored out stud body comprising a light weight filler material;   a metal insert coupled to the stud body, the metal insert extending axially from the stud body; and   a stabilizer disc engaged with the metal insert and disposed within a proximal end portion of the interior cavity such that an exterior surface of the stabilizer disc contacts a surface of the interior cavity in a press-fit engagement.   
     
     
         8 . The traction element of  claim 7 , wherein the stabilizer disc comprises a ring-shaped body defining an exterior surface and an interior surface forming an aperture, wherein the metal insert is disposed through the aperture of the stabilizer disc such that the stabilizer disc is pushed into the interior cavity of the stud body causing the exterior surface of the stabilizer disc to contact the surface of the interior cavity in a press-fit engagement. 
     
     
         9 . The traction element of  claim 7 , wherein the stud body is thimble shaped, the thimble shaped configured to provide traction and gripping strength along a ground surface. 
     
     
         10 . The traction element of  claim 7 , wherein the metal insert is configured to mechanically couple the traction element to the sole of the shoe. 
     
     
         11 . The traction element of  claim 7 , wherein the proximal end portion of the stud body tapers away from the distal head portion and forms a peripheral flange that defines an opening in communication with an interior cavity formed within the stud body. 
     
     
         12 . The traction element of  claim 6 , wherein the metal insert comprises at least a steel or aluminum material. 
     
     
         13 . The traction element of  claim 7 , wherein a plurality of cutaways may be formed axially along an outer surface of the stud body, the plurality of cutaways collectively configured to receive a driving tool. 
     
     
         14 . The traction element of  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of cutaways define an elongated slot configuration forming a base proximate to a peripheral flange of the stud body. 
     
     
         15 . The traction element of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of cutaways define at least one of a triangularly-shaped slot, a rectangular shaped slot, a symmetrically shaped slot, an asymmetrically shaped slot, and a circular shaped slot. 
     
     
         16 . The traction element of  claim 7 , wherein the metal insert is cast to the stud body. 
     
     
         17 . The traction element of  claim 7 , wherein the metal insert is mechanically coupled to the stud body.